Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County on Thursday approved by unanimous vote, on second reading, a referendum in November asking voters to approve a one-penny capital sales tax to be used exclusively for road and bridge repair in the county.

The approximately $379.6 million generated by the tax would be used to fund proposals for priority projects identified by the county and its municipalities.

First-year projected revenues would be approximately $38.5 million per year, with a total of $352 million during the eight-year period from May 1, 2026-April 30, 2034. Groceries and gasoline would be exempted from the tax.

The list and wording of the referendum was constructed by the Capital Project Sales Tax Commission and, if approved, would only be valid for a limited amount of time not to exceed eight years, at which time a new referendum would have to be approved by voters to extend the tax.

As part of the proposal, the commission also recommended that the county council ask voters to approve borrowing about $20 million through bonds to allow starting projects sooner, as the sales tax money comes in over time. Without a bond, no work would begin no sooner than late fall of 2026.

In spite of rumors and misinformation on social media, the funds could not be used for anything other than road/bridge maintenance and repair.

Council members spoke with one voice one the need for clarity and transparency and the call to let voters decide the issue.

The list of projects has been given a priority order (Phase 1 being the highest). Money will go to the highest priority projects first, but multiple projects can be funded simultaneously if those do not delay the higher priority ones.

Any funds left after all the approved projects are done, it can only be used for other transportation projects chosen by the county council.

Here is the text of the proposed referendum which must be approved, on third reading, by county council:

Form Of Ballot

Question: Must a special one percent sales and use tax be imposed in Anderson County, South Carolina for eight (8) years to raise the amounts specified for the following purposes:

$277,999,013.62 for 271 paving and road projects including but not limited to:

- Plantation Road all County owned segments between E River St & Hwy 29 N

- Mt Airy Church Road from Hwy 81 N to Three Bridges Rd (Easley, Powdersville)

- E Main St from S Mechanic St to Lebanon Rd (Pendleton)

- First St from S Academy St to Town limits (Williamston)

- N Main/ S Main St from Calhoun Rd to Guthrie Rd (Belton)

- Dixon Road from Whitehall Rd to Old Pearman Dairy Rd (Anderson County, Centerville)

- Keys Street from Brookhaven Dr to Gleneddie Rd (Anderson City, Homeland Park)

- Shiloh Church Road from Hwy 17 to Hwy 86 (Piedmont)

- Breazeale Road from Hwy 29 to Midway Rd (Belton)

- Monitor Drive from Dobbins Bridge Dr to Lewis St (Anderson County)

- West Mauldin Street from Main Street to Bleckley Street (Anderson City)

$49,381,436.30 for 18 safety projects including but not limited to:

- Oak Hill Road/Harriet Circle to address lack of turn lanes (Anderson County)

- Vandiver Road Pedestrian Safety to address pedestrian safety (Anderson County)

- Pine Top Road/James Cox Road/US 178 (Anderson Highway) to address offset intersection (Belton)

- Centerville Road/Keasler Road to address lack of turn lanes and angle intersections (Anderson County, Centerville)

- Calhoun Street/Marchbanks Road/Rogers Road to address skewed intersection with high volume (Anderson City)

- Concord Road/King Road/Reed Road to address offset intersections and sight distance (Anderson City)

$52,241,707.34 for 17 bridge/culvert projects including but not limited to:

- Scotts Bridge Road over Jones Creek (Anderson County)

- Mullikin Road over Little Garvin Creek (Central)

- Durham Road over Hurricane Creek (Piedmont)

- Parker Bowie Road over Little Generostee Creek (Iva)

Instructions to voters: All qualified electors of the County desiring to vote in favor of imposing the tax for the stated purposes as outlined above shall vote “YES”, and all qualified electors opposed to levying the tax shall vote “NO.”

Here is the complete priority roads/bridge list proposed to be repaired by the funds from the tax: