During a special called meeting Tuesday, Anderson County Council approved second reading on a revised transportation sales and use tax and a construction agreement for construction of the new detention center.
The one percent sales tax will be subject to voter approval of a referendum in November.
Projects eligible for funding under the Sales Tax are limited to highways, roads, streets, bridges, mass transit systems, greenbelts, and other transportation-related projects facilities including, but not limited to, drainage facilities relating to the highways, roads, streets, bridges, and other transportation-related projects.
In 2023, the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office advised the County that, should the Sales Tax be imposed for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, proceeds are anticipated to be $45,012,000, and grow over time with the growth of the State. Total proceeds will be approximately $366,000,000 over the seven years period.
According County officials, the County has undertaken an extensive inventory and assessment of its existing transportation infrastructure and finds that transportation infrastructure within the County is insufficient to meet the current and future needs of the County.
The County will need significant public resources for funding and State resources are likely to become available should the County obtain and dedicate matching funds, which the County currently lacks, from the sales tax.
The question of using a Sales Tax to meet the transportation needs of the County will be presented to voters in a “Referendum” included on the ballot for the Nov. 5 General Election.
The estimated capital cost of the Transportation Projects to be funded from the sales tax is $366,000,000 and the principal amount of bonds to be supported by the Sales Tax is$15,000,000.
The Sales Tax is anticipated to end April 30, 2032.
As amended, “unprepared food items eligible for purchase with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons” will be exempt from the scope of the Sales Tax to be considered by the electors (voters) of the County at the Referendum.
Electors desiring to vote in favor of imposing the Sales Tax for the Transportation Projects will vote “yes” and all qualified electors opposed to levying the Sales Tax shall vote “no.” If a majority of the electors voting in the Referendum vote in favor of the imposition of the Sales Tax, the Sales Tax will be approved.
The Referendum will also include a question regarding the authorization of general obligation bonds secured by Sales Tax receipts.
Qualified electors desiring to vote in favor of the authorization of bonds will vote “yes” and electors opposed will vote “no.”
A public hearing on the Transportation Sales and Use Tax will be held at 6:30 p.m. on August 6 in Council Chambers, 2nd Floor of the Historic Courthouse, 101 S. Main Street, in Anderson.
During the special called meeting, County Council also approved a contract agreement for a Construction Manager as Constructor for the new Detention Center.
The contract includes a Cost of the Work Plus a Fee with a Guaranteed Maximum Price for the project.
