You’ve likely heard or read by now that the Assembly passed a road funding bill this year. This is true, and it’s also true I voted against it (for two reasons). First, the bill allows the state to bond up to $2.2 billion in one-time funding, in other words; it places $2.2 billion in new debt on our children and grandchildren. SC received over $1.2 billion in new revenue this year, and not even half of that went to roads which should be our number one priority. I’ll never support using debt before using the money we have on hand. The other reason for my no vote is that instead of improving the governance of DOT, this bill actually made things worse. The SCDOT Commission used to be elected by members of the Assembly within their Congressional Delegation (so, we would have a Commissioner elected by all of the Senators and Representatives within the 4th US Congressional District). The new legislation allows for the governor to appoint the Commissioners, but only to then have those people still approved by the Congressional Delegation and then by the Senate! The bill actually adds a layer of government to the roads process. This isn’t even one step forward before two steps back. The only thing worse is that we were told in no uncertain terms, by Republican leadership in the House and Senate, that regardless of this bill, we will be back next year to discuss a gas tax hike (like nothing ever happened). I voted for the original Senate version of this bill which sent over $400 million of on-hand recurring dollars to our roads and gave the governor full appointment authority of the DOT Commission. I could not support the aberration that came back to us.
The biggest reason for our potholes is the clearing of roads during ice and snow. That said I do not see why as our state has grown the revenue has not grown to cover maintenance. No doubt this was poor management. Only our representatives are in a position to know who is the blame.
Shane, I agree that we should use money on hand for our #1 priority instead of borrowing. Thank you.
Shane, I agree that we should use funds on hand for our #1 priority instead of borrowing.
Shane, yes we should spend money on hand first. I don’t have a problem with the bill past only if the following occurs first:
1. All new residents that move into this state get a South Carolina plate on their cars first and pay taxes.
2. The multitude of bicycles taking over the roads purchase a tag , jst like an automobile.& must share the road.
Must use same rules as cars, slower traffic keep right!,
3. The money be used only for repair of the roads.
4. Mopeds must have a tag, which I think was past but should also pay insurance.
I am not a proponent of spending money we do not have. Thank you for your vote & for sharing this information.
Shane, this is why we need to increase the fuel tax like NC and Georgia, and not borrow to repair the roads y’all have let get in the condition they are. Stand up and do what is fair and right. No fairer way than a user fee,i.e., fuel tax.
Shane, this is why we need to increase the fuel tax like NC and Georgia, and not borrow to repair the roads y’all have let get in the condition they are. Stand up and do what is fair and right. No fairer way than a user fee,i.e., fuel tax.
Contractors can only pave so many miles or put down so much asphalt a year. Mostly due to restrictions of time of day, road temp., weather conditions and mainly DHEC and other state regulations. That said, any new construction should be separate from road maintenance and passed separately. In other words NO increase in road tax the money is there with over a Billion dollars in surplus a year.
Here is a unique idea, stop contractors from any maintenance and turn this back over to the department employees like it used to be years ago. This in turn cuts down on the idea of say contractors maybe padding pockets ( oh we know it ain’t so Joe ) and then secondly any commissioner who has any family member will not be allowed to do business with the SC Hwy Dept based on ethics.