The Guardians of Greenville
Who’s Behind “Your Penny Will Fix This Road”?
If you’ve been driving around Greenville County recently, you’ve likely noticed a new sign popping up in various locations. The bold message, "Your Penny Will Fix This Road," has caught the attention of drivers, but few know who’s behind it or what it really means. As it turns out, these signs are not connected to Greenville County itself or any official county program. They are the product of an organization called “Guardians of Greenville”. As a representative of many people who may see this and think it is affiliated with Council or may donate thinking that the money is guaranteed to be used for this initiative, I thought it necessary to look into it and see what I could find.
Who Are the “Guardians of Greenville”?
“Guardians of Greenville” is the group behind the new signs, and according to their website, FixGVLRoads.com, their goal is to promote a local sales tax increase that they say will go toward road improvements across Greenville County. This sounds straightforward enough—after all, anyone who drives in the county knows that road conditions are a top concern. However, there’s something curious about this group that just doesn’t sit well with me.
Why the Lack of Transparency Raises Concerns
Without knowing who is funding “Guardians of Greenville” or who is behind the campaign, it becomes difficult to evaluate their motives. For many voters, trust is rooted in transparency. When organizations are unwilling to disclose their backers, it can feel as if there’s something to hide. Are these truly local citizens and businesses advocating for better roads, or are there other interests at play? Could they be special interest groups hoping to capitalize on the almost 1 BILLION dollars that the Tax will bring in. REMEMBER…..this sales tax pays for more State Road miles than County Road miles, and that State money flows through Columbia. I will expand my conversation about that closer to November! You might be shocked to learn how long it could still take to see the State portions of this done once the money has been collected.
As you can see, it is not listed as a 501c3. While this is not required, they are promoting for citizens to donate to the organization. Where again is the transparency and accountability? How do citizens know that the money is being used for what they are donating it for? So far, no names of individuals or businesses associated with the group have been made public, and this lack of transparency should cause anyone contributing to pause and think about what their money could be assisting.
They are listed as an “NGO” (Non Governmental Organization) on their facebook page.
What People are Saying so far
The quotes below came from the fixgvlroads facebook page. Feel free to fact check here: fixgvlroads Facebook page
While you are there, let them know what you think about the proposal.
"Here’s a fact; much like the gas tax, not a dime of this money will go toward the roads! Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me."
"Tell you what, you do the work and then we’ll approve the tax. Because you’ve already proven we can’t trust you to get paid up front."
“No Visible Road Improvements Despite Past Taxes”
"I do not believe that this money will be used to FIX roads, but will, instead, be used to build sidewalks and redo intersections."
"They have 1.8 billion of unearmarked funds in Columbia to fix our roads. Use it and 'NO' to more taxes."
"Once it goes UP IT won't EVER come back down. The tax increase will be permanent."
“Most all sales tax increases have all been for the exact same reason, to fix our roads. But...the money was always allocated to other things."
"Where is the gas tax money going? Just a penny here and a penny there, soon it will be 15 to 20%."
I honestly haven’t seen a supporting comment on their social media page yet or I would have included it. You would think that an initiative such as this should already have created a grassroots ground swell—if it was truly the desire of the majority of Greenville County constituents. But let me be clear—I am not saying that there is no support for the Sales Tax! Maybe those people are just busy out putting up signs?
Conclusion: Transparency is Key
As the campaign for this sales tax continues to unfold, it’s important that Greenville County voters demand transparency from both those of us who oppose it, as well as those advocating for it. Only then can the community have a real conversation about whether this proposal is in the best interest of everyone who lives here. Until then, the signs reading "Your Penny Will Fix This Road" may leave more doubts than answers. I know it does for me! - BBD19
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Thank you, Benton!