Meal tax in Lexington limited to 8 years

Lexington town leaders agreed Monday to end a meal tax planned for road improvements in 2023.

The cap of slightly more than eight years was added as the tax of two pennies on the dollar received initial Town Council approval 6-1.

Supporters called the tax the only way to generate money soon for projects designed to ease traffic congestion in a steadily growing community at the crossroads of commuter thoroughfares.

“This is a tax everybody up here would rather not do,” Councilman Todd Carnes said. “But it’s time to move the ball forward.”

Plans call for collection to start Oct. 1, expiring Dec. 31, 2023.

The tax would apply to restaurant dining, take-out food and some snacks.

It is estimated to generate $2 million a year initially, with revenue used 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.

The projects will cost $13.6 million and take four years to finish, officials estimate. Paying for them will take longer as costs would be spread out.

Anti-tax forces – mostly nonresidents – complained that interest in the tax and projects selected was hidden until recently.

“We are rushing this thing headlong,” agreed Ted Stambolitis, the sole council member opposed.

Some town residents endorsed the proposal. “This is a big league move,” road safety crusader David Longstreet said.

Town leaders promised to end the tax sooner should unexpected federal or state aid materialize.

This story was originally published August 17, 2015 at 11:23 PM with the headline "Meal tax in Lexington limited to 8 years."