Columbia, SC — Should we tax the people of South Carolina billions of dollars for all the much-needed road repairs or let the road users passing through and vacationing in our state help pay? The only fair way to pay for the road repairs is with a road-use tax. Millions of out-of-state vehicles pass through our state every year. I would not doubt that as many people pass through as live in this state, maybe more.

We have one of the lowest gasoline taxes in the country. North Carolina and Georgia have raised their gasoline tax and have improved their road systems, and they are much better than ours. Travel I-95 to North Carolina and see the difference when you cross the line. We are trying to attract industry into this state. Where will businesses go if we do not keep up our road system?

None of us like taxes, but without taxes we would be still driving on dirt roads, and the longer we wait to address this problem, the more expensive the repairs get. Diverting money from any other source puts most of the burden on the people of South Carolina.

I am very upset with the political process in the state and the nation. Where are the leaders who can stand up and say this is a no-brainer and it must be done? It may be unpopular right now to raise the gasoline tax, but it is necessary. It seems so simple, yet our politicians are looking everywhere else for the money.

Elliott Sheorn

Camden