WHEREAS, as the population of South Carolina, Greenville County, and the
City of Greer has grown so has the volume of vehicle miles driven on roads in Greenville County and the City of Greer, leading to increased traffic, deteriorating road surfaces and over-saturated highway capacities; and
WHEREAS, the costs of maintaining and building roads have exceeded the
annual federal and state appropriations over a number of years and citizens have
expressed a desire to explore options to provide additional funding for the improvement of road infrastructure serving Greenville County and the City of Greer; and
WHEREAS, Greenville County Council, on November 5, 2013, unanimously
passed Resolution No. 1486, creating the Greenville Citizens Roads Advisory
Commission to consider proposals and receive citizen and community input regarding potential road improvement and related projects within the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Greenville County; and
WHEREAS, the Report of the Greenville Citizens Road Advisory Commission
provided to Greenville County Council on April 1, 2014 concludes that “the current
means for maintenance of our road system is woefully inadequate”, provides a prioritized list of road improvements and related projects throughout Greenville County, including the City of Greer, and recommends Greenville County Council “should consider pursuing some means of a dedicated funding source at an appropriate level to adequately insure needed road improvements are completed expeditiously”; and
WHEREAS, the South Carolina General Assembly enacted the Capital Project
Sales Tax Act, authorizing the county governing body to call for a referendum of the
registered voters of the county on the question of imposing a one percent (1%) sales and use tax to fund capital projects throughout the county; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Project Sales Tax Act can be used to fund capital
projects, including the improvement of the road systems, in the county for up to eight (8) years and it is estimated that a one percent (1%) sales and use tax in Greenville County would generate approximately $65 million per year; and
WHEREAS, the City of Greer Council makes no determination that a one
percent (1%) sales and use tax should be imposed for the purpose of funding road
improvements and other related project but does support allowing the registered voters of Greenville County to make that determination through a county-wide referendum;
NOW, THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED Greer City Council supports action
by Greenville County Council to call for the registered voters of Greenville County to
consider by referendum the question of imposing a one percent (1%) sales and use tax to fund road improvements and other related projects within the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Greenville County.
This resolution shall be effective upon approval by the Council of the City of Greer.