Hostility emerges to Lexington County penny

projects tax
thestate.com/2014/05/12/3442963/hostility-emerges-to-lexington.html
By TIM FLACH
TIM DOMINICK tdominick@thestate.com Buy Photo
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File: Updated: List of proposed Lexington Co. projects
Adviser eligible f or some work
The company serving as an adviser to the panel preparing Lexington Countys package of
sales tax projects is eligible to work on some parts of the plan af terward.
Alliance Consulting Engineers can help guide completion of up to 10 percent of the $268.1
million plan under a deal with County Council.
That limit was adopted to assure work is spread among several companies, Council Chairman
Johnny Jef f coat of Irmo said.
We knew there would be some concern about f avoritism without a restriction, he said.
Council members selected Alliance last f all af ter privately interviewing a half dozen f irms, citing
the companys experience in shaping such packages in picking it f or the job.
The choice drew complaints that the company is based outside the county. It is receiving
$450,000 as the panels adviser.
Opposition is surf acing to a proposed penny-on-the-dollar sales tax in Lexington County as the f inal
touches were placed Monday on the improvements it would support.
Opponents are upset with what they consider f rivolous inclusions such as new recreation f acilities, a
walking path along the lower Saluda River, library expansion and civic centers f or Gaston and
Swansea.
Theres too much f rosting on the cake, said political consultant R.J. Shealy, who said he is advising
the group being organized to promote rejection of the tax and projects at a Nov. 4 ballot.
The projects under f ire compose about a seventh of the $268.1 million package of 69 projects that
an advisory panel of civic leaders chose.
Panel members generally picked the top choices of community leaders who say they need more
money to make improvements long-wanted to keep pace with steady growth.
The message to voters is you have your f uture in your own hands, said public relations executive
Lee Bussell of Chapin, a member of the panel.
Opponents will suggest a smaller tax hike no more than a half -cent on the dollar would be better
if devoted only to roads and perhaps water, sewer and drainage upgrades, Shealy said.
The opposition emerged as another $91.3 million in projects was added to the package.
Panel members on what they call contingencies projects that will occur if those ahead of them
cost less to build, are canceled or if revenue f rom the proposed penny-on the-dollar tax is more than
expected.
Unlike the main package, the list of provisional projects isnt dominated by roads.
Its 23 projects include $43.6 million f or transportation, $40 million f or recreation, libraries and other
new f acilities and $7.7 million f or water, sewer and drainage.
Projects on that list include $30.2 million to pave about 40 miles of dirt roads, $13.2 million to expand
libraries in eight communities, $12.2 million f or a new sports complex in Dixiana, $8.8 million f or a new
municipal f acility in Springdale and $4 million f or a community center in Chapin.
Panel members plan to settle on f inal details Thursday bef ore sending the package to County
Council f or approval.
If approved by voters countywide, the new tax hike would last eight years, but can be renewed.
Groceries and prescription medicine would remain exempt f rom the tax. The current sales tax is 7
cents on the dollar.
Reach Flach at (803) 771-8483.