Transportation Sales Tax Could Improve 125 Lancaster County Roads If Voters Approve

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — A smooth ride can be hard to come by on Lancaster County roads according to some drivers, but County leaders want to change that and believe a transportation sales tax could be the answer.

Lancaster County Administrator, Dennis Marstall, says the proposal for this transportation sales tax would last 15 years and generate more than $400 million to be used to improve 125 roadways County wide.

The sales tax itself would only cost one cent. That would add to Lancaster County’s current eight percent sales tax. Marstall says the money the tax would raise would be used on roadway improvements like widening, repaving, updating intersections and more.

The proposed transportation sales tax is being left up to voters. County Council now has to decide if the transportation tax will be on the ballot this year alongside a bond referendum for Lancaster County School District, or wait until 2025.

Talking with area drivers led to mixed opinions.

“Willing to vote yes if it’s going to benefit the whole entire county,” said Jamie Furse, a long time Lancaster resident.

Another County driver not wanting to be identified said, “against it, because you take more money out of people that are already paying a buttload of taxes.”

Lancaster County Council is set to meet Monday evening and will decide when exactly voters will see the proposed sales tax on their ballots.