During their first meeting of the new year Tuesday, Anderson County Council approved third reading on an ordinance for a one percent transportation sales and use tax to provide funding for road and bridge repairs in the county.
The new tax will go to a Referendum for voters to decide if they want it or not, on election day November 5, 2024.
If approved it will go into effect for fiscal year ending May 1, 2025 and will be in place for a limited time, ending April 30, 2032.
Proceeds are anticipated to be $45,012,000 and are expected to grow along with the State. Based on information provided by South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, proceeds are expected to total approximately $360 million over seven years. The principal amount of a bond issue to be supported by the sales tax is $15 million.
Before the vote, Council Chairman Tommy Dunn said the sales tax is expected to bring in approximately $50 million each year and voters can decide at the end of seven years if they want to continue it. “It does not fund personnel or office staff. It is definitely only for roads if it is approved,” he said.
Projects eligible for funding include highways, roads, streets, bridges, mass transit systems, greenbelts and other transportation related projects including drainage. Projects to be funded from the sales tax will be listed along with the estimated capital cost.
According to the ordinance and information provided during the Council meeting, the County has undertaken an extensive inventory and assessment of existing transportation infrastructure and determined that it does not meet the current and future needs of the County.
County Administrator Rusty Burns said a trial study on roads was done in the Powdersville area and a county-wide study is still being completed. The County has also secured a Federal grant to look at all roads in Anderson County, Burns said.
The sales tax will be on all goods and services sold in Anderson County including groceries.
Revenues from the sales tax will be collected by the SC Department of Revenue and be distributed quarterly to the County.
As part of the Referendum, voters will also have the opportunity to decide if they want a supporting bond that will be secured by proceeds from the tax. The bond issue will allow the County to begin funding road projects sooner.
Notice of the Referendum must be published for four weeks prior to the Referendum and a public hearing will also be scheduled by the Anderson County Board of Voter Registration and Elections at least 15 days prior to the Referendum.
In other business, District Five Councilman Tommy Dunn was elected to continue to serve as County Council Chairman. District Four Councilman Brett Sanders was elected to continue to serve as Vice-Chair.
Council approved third reading on an ordinance authorizing a special source credit agreement for Lake Hartwell Development Group LLC doing business as The Shores of Asbury. The agreement allows the County to collect a precent of gross sales yearly that increases to three percent of gross sales at year four.
Council also approved third reading on an ordinance to enlarge a joint county industrial and business park (2010) to include property of Lake Hartwell Development Group LLC.
Second reading was also approved on a related sublease agreement between the County and Lake Hartwell Development Group.
Council approved a resolution to abandon and close a portion of Sebastian Court in Woodhaven Estates Subdivision in District 2 and Oakwood Drive in District 6.
Council also unanimously approved accepting Breckenridge Subdivision Phases 3, 4, 5 including S Oak, Crest Drive, Oak Hill Lane, Maple Lane and Highlands Drive into the County road system. The subdivision is located in Council District 7.
Various funding requests for United Negro College Fund, Westside Community Center, Anderson County Foster Parent Association and SC State Chili Cook Off in Belton were approved.
During public comments, one person spoke regarding a tire dump on Brooks Road. According to the speaker, used tires are being brought from a business in Greenville County and dumped at the property in Anderson County. SCDHEC has been notified and “nothing is being done.”
Chairman Dunn instructed County Administrator Burns and others to look into the situation.
Councilmember Cindy Wilson said the property is being sold and suggested cleanup could possibly be done with funds from the sale, which she said has not been confirmed.
