Lexington County Residents Oppose Proposed $30 Vehicle Registration Fee to Fund Road Improvements

Lexington County Residents Voice Concerns Over Proposed $30 Vehicle Registration Fee

In the heart of Lexington County, residents gathered on Tuesday to express their opinions on a proposal that could soon add a $30 fee to vehicle registrations across the county. The purpose? To fund much-needed road improvements in an area where crumbling infrastructure has become a pressing concern.

Public Hearing Draws Strong Opposition

From the get-go, it was clear where the majority stood on this issue. Nine passionate locals stepped up to speak against the proposed fee during a public hearing, with only one person supporting the plan. This shows a clear sentiment among the approximately 300,000 registered vehicle owners in the county, as echoed by the overwhelming online responses: 122 opposed the fee, while just two voiced support.

The Tough Road Ahead

But why are people so against it? Well, a recent study laid bare the realities of the county’s infrastructure. Shockingly, it revealed that 38% of the county’s roads were already in “fair” or “poor” condition, with forecasts predicting that number could rise to 70% by the end of the decade if things don’t change. Council members hope that this new fee will help raise approximately $8 million annually to address these challenges.

For context, former Deputy Secretary of Planning at the S.C. Department of Transportation, Brent Rewis, stressed during the hearing just how much is needed to make a dent in the problem. “It costs half a million dollars a mile to resurface a road,” he pointed out. The math only becomes more daunting with intersection improvements averaging between $1.5 million to $3 million—when you’re dealing with that magnitude of repair needs, a mere road user fee barely scratches the surface.

Concerns About Legality and Fairness

Critics were not shy about voicing their objections either. Dan Hagan from Swansea boldly claimed that the proposal may violate state Supreme Court precedent. He argued that it’s unjust to create a fee if individuals don’t receive a direct benefit from where their money is going. “Let’s call this what it is, a tax,” Hagan stated, suggesting they would consider legal action against the fee.

Others had alternative ideas for addressing the road funding issue, suggesting that the county could recalibrate existing budgets instead of imposing a new fee on residents. John Campbell from Chapin humorously suggested the need for an “Elon Musk-type person” to step in and prioritize spending better.

A Sliding Scale or Visitor Tax?

Some residents proposed a sliding scale for the fee based on vehicle weight, while others floated the idea of a tax aimed at visitors who come into the county rather than placing the burden on local drivers. Council members indicated that the fee they proposed would eventually be phased out should voters approve a penny sales tax specifically for road improvements. But there’s a catch: attempts at similar sales tax measures were shot down in both 2014 and 2022, leaving residents skeptical about how effective this might be.

The Future of Lexington County’s Roads

Chairwoman Beth Carrigg mentioned that without a new tax, the county has limited funding sources—primarily the state gas tax, which is around $6 million per year, a third of which is mandated to go toward state-maintained roads. Rewis emphasized the inevitability of growth in Lexington County as more people move in, bringing their cars and further stressing the roadways.

His suspicion? That state officials and local council may not be equipped to manage this increased traffic and infrastructure burden adequately. It seems everyone acknowledges there’s a challenge ahead; the question remains—how will the county tackle it?