Lexington residents split on meal tax for road repairs

Lexington town leaders heard some divided opinions Monday on their plan to adopt a meal tax to pay for three road projects.

Some residents called the plan a long-wanted step, which would alleviate traffic congestion.

“Our backs are to the wall when it comes to traffic,” Edie Harmon said. “This is a creative way to do something about it.”

A coalition of anti-tax groups said Town Hall should reduce spending to pay for improvements instead of adding a tax of 2 cents on the dollar on restaurant meals, take-out food and some snacks.

“They’re needless spenders and should cut back to get this done,” said Wes Howard, spokesman for the groups.

Those opinions came at the first of three sessionstown leaders are holding on the tax.

Adoption of any tax isn’t popular but “sometimes you have to stand up and tackle an issue that way,” Mayor Steve MacDougall said.

Congestion promises to worsen significantly in waiting for federal and state aid for the projects that’s unlikely to come soon, Councilman Todd Carnes said.

It is estimated a meal tax will generate $2 million a year initially for Town Hall.

Plans call for collection of the tax to start Oct. 1. The seven council members can adopt it without approval from voters.

Tax revenue would pay to:

▪ Add a traffic circle on Corley Mill and a side road off it near U.S. 378 and I-20.

▪ Install a traffic circle at S.C. 6 and U.S. 378, with new routes into Lexington Middle School.

▪ Make parts of S.C. 6 and Church Street one-way routes.

Those roads are heavily used by local motorists in the steadily growing town of 20,000 residents as well as commuters across Lexington County.

The projects will cost $13.6 million and take four years to finish, officials estimate.