3/22/2017 From the desk of Jim Self
South Carolina is considering a gas tax...and a sales tax increase on automobiles. Our new Governor, Henry McMaster, suggested last week that the present gas tax, which is the lowest in the country, supposedly, is not entirely going to road maintenance, which, to me, suggests that part of it is being hijacked to use in other areas. The target of 12 cents a gallon is set to take about 60 dollars a year from each of us SC drivers.
Now I am going to tell you what I think.
The sales tax is already $300. That's enough. Period. Don't bugger with that.
If the 12 cents a gallon will do it, that's ok with me. About 30% will be paid by out of state drivers. BUT, make sure that money goes toward road maintenance. All of it.
And if the present gas tax revenue isn't all going toward road maintenance, correct that issue.
According to the DOT and the Post and Courier;
29% of urban roadways are in poor condition
35% are in mediocre condition
19% are in fair condiition
17% are in good condition
The TRIP Report...a national transportation research group based in Washington, D.C. is used by the Post and Courier unnecessarily back up their claims of this need and most probably to supply filler material. There is no way a bunch of suited college grads living off of lobbying salaries in DC can estimate my auto maintenance costs by $1850 a year (per auto) and not be transparently and completely wrong. I wish we wouldn't use information like that. It's got to be nonsense.
We South Carolinians do need to improve our roads. 12 cents a gallon is not going to break us. Now I wish they would just do it and move on.
South Carolina is considering a gas tax...and a sales tax increase on automobiles. Our new Governor, Henry McMaster, suggested last week that the present gas tax, which is the lowest in the country, supposedly, is not entirely going to road maintenance, which, to me, suggests that part of it is being hijacked to use in other areas. The target of 12 cents a gallon is set to take about 60 dollars a year from each of us SC drivers.
Now I am going to tell you what I think.
The sales tax is already $300. That's enough. Period. Don't bugger with that.
If the 12 cents a gallon will do it, that's ok with me. About 30% will be paid by out of state drivers. BUT, make sure that money goes toward road maintenance. All of it.
And if the present gas tax revenue isn't all going toward road maintenance, correct that issue.
According to the DOT and the Post and Courier;
29% of urban roadways are in poor condition
35% are in mediocre condition
19% are in fair condiition
17% are in good condition
The TRIP Report...a national transportation research group based in Washington, D.C. is used by the Post and Courier unnecessarily back up their claims of this need and most probably to supply filler material. There is no way a bunch of suited college grads living off of lobbying salaries in DC can estimate my auto maintenance costs by $1850 a year (per auto) and not be transparently and completely wrong. I wish we wouldn't use information like that. It's got to be nonsense.
We South Carolinians do need to improve our roads. 12 cents a gallon is not going to break us. Now I wish they would just do it and move on.
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