AIKEN --- Half of Aiken County's Capital Projects Sales Tax funds could go toward paving, resurfacing and extending county roads.
On Tuesday the county council's sales tax committee discussed devoting $32 million of the 1-cent sales tax money to road projects.
County Administrator Clay Killian said about $65 million would be available through tax collections if voters decide to extend the 1-cent sales tax package.
The committee also would devote $13 million to road projects suggested by Aiken City Council. The county will sign a memorandum of understanding with the city and North Augusta to help cover some of the cost of improving county thoroughfares in the municipalities.
About $16 million would go toward paving county roads, though county staff suggested spending about $60 million to pave 130 miles of dirt roads.
Councilwoman Kathy Rawls said that while fewer roads would be paved it would still be a major improvement.
"We'll get less than 40 miles of road with that amount, but that's still good," she said.
An additional $3 million will likely go toward resurfacing.
The rest of the list includes building projects, ambulance purchases and other equipment.
Nonprofit organizations are also invited to request funds from the county to add to the list of projects being considered. The committee will not conduct a formal presentation of those proposals but will accept letters from those organizations.
Rawls said with few dollars to spend on county projects there would likely not be much left for the public-private sector organizations.
"The county has such critical needs that we need to focus on those for now," she said. "If we don't, we may be raising taxes for county needs at some point. I don't support that."
The committee has not decided whether the tax referendum will be placed on a ballot this November or in 2011. The council could decide to place it on the ballot next year to avoid a conflict with the Aiken County Schools' proposed bond referendum in November.
The committee has until mid-April to finalize the list. In the next meeting, committee members will narrow the list once further and consider how much to spend on remaining projects.
Save money and keep the owners of land in horse country happy by leaving our roads alone. We don't want quaint dirt roads running through our land paved ruining the character and use for horse enthusiasts.
Speak for yourself buddy, paved roads are good, stop trying to hold back progress just cause you want to have your "quaint" horse country.
There is a tremendous need in Aiken County for the funds that this renewed sales tax will generate. This is not a new tax, but a renewal of a tax in place for several years, so it will not be noticed since it represents no additional expense to the taxpayers. This one-cent tax is a real bargain as compared to property tax in that 35% of this tax is paid by visitors who don't live in the County. The current tax paid for the wonderful Child Advocacy Center that helps abused children. The nonprofit Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons (CAAP), which provides free shelter, legal and financial assistance, and counseling to over 2,000 battered wives and children each year, is in critical need of capital funds from this renewed sales tax for an enlarged counseling and administrative center . Phil England
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