Greenville County Capital Projects Sales Tax: A Recap and New Unrecognized Problems in the Wake of Hurricane Helene

Councilman Blount’s Newsletter 10-16-24

In my previous newsletters, I’ve discussed several key concerns regarding the Capitol Projects Sales Tax proposal, and with the vote nearing, it’s worth revisiting these points:

1. Misallocation of Funds: Greenville residents pay substantial state gas taxes, yet only a small portion is returned to fund local road projects.

2. State Road Responsibility: A significant amount of the tax revenue will be used to repave state-owned roads, a cost that should be covered by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, not local taxpayers.

3. Cul-de-Sac Focus: The proposal disproportionately targets low-use cul-de-sacs, rather than focusing on higher-priority roads that see more traffic.

4. Lack of State Reimbursement: The state is under no obligation to reimburse local taxpayers for covering these road costs.

5. Repeated Roadwork Issues: Greenville is already seeing wasteful practices, such as repaving roads too soon, like Salters Rd., and potential lane reductions on Wade Hampton Blvd, which could exacerbate rather than solve traffic issues.

6. Lack of Transparency: Despite promises, we still do not have a clear, itemized project list available to voters at polling places, only promises that were never to my knowledge followed up on to confirm. Instead, you get 50 out of 1500. Transparency?

7. Increased Administrative Burden: New departments required for administering the tax may lead to future property tax hikes, as sales tax revenue is not allowed to be used to fund the additional staff.

The community deserves smarter, more transparent solutions to our infrastructure needs. These points emphasize why I urge a “No” vote on this referendum. Voting “No” will push Council to craft a more responsible plan in the near future.

As if you needed additional reasons……

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The Sales Tax in the Wake of Hurricane Helene

As Greenville begins to rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, some glaring issues with the Capital Projects Sales Tax have come to light—issues that weren’t fully recognized when the tax was first proposed. A key example is the damage to S.C. 276, the road leading to Caesar’s Head. With lanes washed out and a bridge closure, the repairs needed are far beyond the original scope of what was planned. While efforts are underway to make the road passable, the new level of damage means these projects will now take longer and cost significantly more to complete. Read more HERE

This presents a critical problem with the Capital Projects Sales Tax: the project list was finalized before the storm hit. Funds allocated for specific repairs cannot exceed the pre-set amounts, even when the scope of work has dramatically changed due to unforeseen damage. So while we may raise money for these infrastructure projects, we’re tied to amounts that no longer reflect the true cost of rebuilding. Once the budget is exhausted, Greenville County will be left without the ability to address additional repairs unless we find other funding sources.

And there’s another issue—many of these roads, including S.C. 276, are controlled by the state. While Greenville residents are raising the funds, the county is not in charge of the actual work. State commissions will control the timeline, approvals, and scheduling, leaving us to wait, sometimes for years, before these projects are completed. In the meantime, our roads remain dangerous, and residents are left driving on roads that should have been repaired months ago.

This is exactly why I could not support this initiative.

I’ve always believed we can address Greenville’s infrastructure needs without relinquishing control to a commission or unelected persons. There’s a better way to do this that puts the decision-making power back in the hands of the people of Greenville. In the coming weeks, I’ll share more about an alternative plan that addresses our infrastructure challenges and makes sure we’re not left stuck in a bureaucratic process with no end in sight.

Hurricane Helene has shown us that plans need to be flexible and responsive to real-world conditions. The Capital Projects Sales Tax, as it stands, is not equipped to handle the level of damage we’re facing, and it’s time to rethink how we approach this issue before it’s too late. Let’s not lock ourselves into a tax plan that won’t deliver the results Greenville truly needs.

More to come! - BBD19