LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) – In Lexington County a one % gross sales tax hike or penny tax is on the poll for voters and it is going to be used to fund a listing of highway enchancment tasks within the county.
The highest precedence on the record of tasks and the costliest out of all of the tasks will probably be widening Longs Pond Street from two lanes into 5 lanes.
The venture will value the county $64 million, however the large query is how will tax hike influence taxpayers.
The Lexington County Administrator says it would range for every taxpayer. It depends upon an individual’s spending habits. WIS additionally spoke with some locals and enterprise homeowners. Some residents appear to have blended opinions and a few confusion concerning the tax. Some say it’s wanted to repair some main visitors issues and others say they worry it’ll be a waste of their cash.
If voted on, the one % Capital Project Sales Tax will go into impact in Could of 2023 and can fund greater than 100 totally different highway enchancment tasks. A committee was chosen to place collectively a listing of roads, bridges, and intersections that want enchancment as a consequence of elevated visitors.
Cathy Mathias, a resident of Lexington County, says she wouldn’t be against a gross sales tax hike.
“Since they constructed the varsity on the market, it’s crucial that they do one thing with the visitors,” mentioned Cathy Mathias.
“We positively want to enhance the roads and it is a first rate option to pay for it,” she mentioned.
However one other resident tells WIS that she fears it’ll take years earlier than the tasks get underway.
“I imply, I feel they’ll get assist from some other place. We’re working tougher already with all the things going up,” mentioned Rebecca Mullinkin, one other resident.
And there are additionally blended opinions from native enterprise homeowners like Cassie Wing of Wretched Collections.
“They’ve pushed the penny tax earlier than and the roads are nonetheless horrible. It simply looks like nothing is getting completed round right here,” mentioned Cassie Wing.
“We want it and it’s onerous to say no to all the things. But it surely’s onerous to get enthusiastic about it as a result of I haven’t seen sufficient of the main points,” mentioned Matt O’Hara, co-owner of O’Hara’s Public Home and Bakery Cafe.
“It’s a one % gross sales tax and there’s an entire stack of issues that it applies to or what’s exempt,” mentioned Lynn Sturkie, Lexington County Administrator.
The tax won’t apply to groceries, prescriptions, and gasoline, however County Administrator Lynn Sturkie says it would usher in $535 million and that’s not only for Lexington County roads. Sturkie says he introduced a listing of funding choices to the county council’s consideration and the Capital Gross sales Tax Undertaking was probably the most helpful for residents.
“They mentioned to carry on timeout, each possibility you dropped at us solely impacts the residents of Lexington county. If we had been to have a look at a transportation tax or a Capital Gross sales Tax, we all know a sure proportion can be contributed by no county residents,” mentioned Sturkie.
If handed by Lexington County voters the eight-year tax will start on Could 1, 2023, and finish on April 30, 2031. It’s nonetheless unclear when the highway work will start, however the cash for these tasks will probably be disbursed in October of 2023.
Lexington County leaders have laid out a Capital Gross sales Undertaking Tax Grasp Plan. The Lexington Chamber and Guests Heart can even be internet hosting a gross sales tax information convention on Nov. 1, at 9:00 a.m. on the 2500 block of Two Notch Street, the place it intersects with Lengthy Ponds Street.
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