Council OKs Roads Commission Members, Passes First Reading of Budget

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County Council unanimously approved a resolution approving moving forward with a commission to consider a referendum for a one-penny Capital Projects Sales Tax to fund repair/replacement of the county’s 15,400 miles of roads and 157 bridges.

The commission will include the three members appointed by county council on Tuesday and three from the municipalities in the cities and towns to identify the priorities of roads which are in most critical need.

Council approved Matt Reeves, Jamie Cantrell and Garrett Beatty as the county’s members of the commission. All three have extensive business experience and have agreed to serve. The municipal members are expected to be appointed in the next two weeks.

The commission will be tasked not only with prioritizing roads, but crafting the actual referendum, which will include the priorities for the funds. That referendum would then require three readings by the county council to be put on a ballot for November.

If approved the tax will raise approximately $35 million per year for county roads, municipal roads and bridges. Currently Anderson County has a $350 million backlog of road/bridges work that is largely unfunded.

Council on Tuesday also approved on first reading on a $292 million budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The budget, which is still work in progress, must be approved in three readings before the next fiscal year begins July 1. Council has passed only one tax increase in the past 15 years and removed it the following budget year. The challenge of population growth presents a greater demand for services, such as law enforcement and sewer and water demand.

A public forum on the budget will be held before the final reading on the budget at the Anderson Civic Center, but no date has been set.

Council also approved on Tuesday a measure to protect waterways from runoff and pollution. All properties of 50 acres or less will require a riparian zone of 50 feet buffer and properties of greater than 50 acres a 100-foot buffer. A riparian zone is the transitional area between a body of water and the surrounding land. It's essentially the area where terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems meet, influencing both the soil, vegetation, and overall environment. River/stream banks and flood plains are among the areas impacted by the new ordinance.

Other council actions on Tuesday included:

Approved new language to ensure tax incentives for Arthrex remain in place. Arthrex investment in the county is now more than $200 million, with 1,200 jobs.

Appointed Mary Lander and the Anderson County Museum representative for Dist. 2.

Appointed Kelly Moon and the Anderson County Library Board representative for Dist. 1.