New fee proposed to help fix Lexington County roads

An additional fee on all new homes, stores, offices and industry was proposed Wednesday to improve Lexington County roads.

Making incoming development pay extra is a way to raise money to make roads safer and less congested, County Councilman Ned Tolar of West Columbia said.

“It’s entirely reasonable to expect those who drive growth to help pay for its costs,” he said. “It’s new development that is putting more cars on our roads, which is causing many of the challenges we now face.”

The proposal immediately was labeled a tax increase by a different name. “At the end of the day, it’s falling on the back of the buyer,” said Councilman Phil Yarborough of Irmo, a builder interested in the idea.

Other council members are uncertain if the fee is possible under restrictions set by the Legislature. “We’ve got to understand if we can even do this,” Councilman Todd Cullum of Cayce said.

Tolar called his proposal an alternative to higher taxes to pay for road improvements in the steadily growing county.

A proposed sales tax increase of a penny on the dollar mainly for roads lost 2-1 in a 2014 referendum. A push for a second vote this fall fizzled.

Officials submitted $336 million in road projects for the penny tax proposal.

Many questions about fee are unanswered, including the amount. Renovations probably would be exempt from the fee.

Tolar urged that fresh ideas to pay for roads be considered, saying “we’re going to have to do things a little bit differently.”

The fee would be a first step of a package taking shape to repair and upgrade roads, he said. “I’m not suggesting that this (fee) would be a cure-all,” Tolar said.

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 8:21 PM with the headline "New fee proposed to help fix Lexington County roads."