COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Tuesday Richland County Council was given a $2 billion project list that would include a possible Penny Tax extension.
Billions of dollars more could be on the way for more road projects in Richland County as the council held a workshop to hear proposed projects the county would like to see done in the next 15 years.
David Beaty, a consultant with Stantec, a planning, design and engineering firm, presented the list to the council.
"The project list includes projects that were identified by the public," Beaty adds. "Dirt roads, sidewalks, were also comments that we did receive. Probably the biggest comment was resurfacing and it was truly, 'fix the potholes throughout the county,' a lot of widening comments, intersection."
The list includes close to 100 separate projects spanning all parts of the county and includes some projects that were originally promised in the 2012 Penny Tax, such as a $21 million road widening project along Broad River Road.
Other projects included bikeway additions, intersection improvements, and resurfacing or dirt road paving.
"We're trying to come together on a list of projects, it may not be absolute, but some indication to the public, how much it's going to go to the bus system, how much is going to go to sidewalks and roadways, greenways," says District 6 Councilman, Don Weaver.
According to Councilman Weaver, this new list comes as funds from the original Penny Tax come to an end, and voters will be asked to extend the sales tax in the November election. He says the high price tag would not mean an increase of taxes for residents and would still need council approval.
"Voters would not see any increase. If they're paying a penny now, it would still be a penny. That's going to be on the voter referendum," he adds, "Things have gone up and costs and everything, of course, the penny it tied to that. And this is going to be extended longer, for 15 years, so it's a longer commitment to the project."
In 2016, the South Carolina Department of Revenue withheld payment of Penny Tax money to Richland County over continued concerns about how the county was spending the funds. Weaver says the county will work to be transparent and spend the funds appropriately.
"The county administrator has been good. Mr. Brown has been good about making very clear that we learned our lesson the first time, on what can and cannot be spent on. There's going to be no coffee services this time, there's going to be no extra money spent on consultants, or public relations or whatever from the new penny," he says.
Looking forward, the county council is expected to vote on the Transportation Penny Advisory Committee's resolution on March 19th and then the council will host multiple work sessions and meetings to discuss the proposal further. A list of the projects can be found here.