GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville County Republican Party will hold a public town hall from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Blue Ridge Library in Greer, aimed squarely at the proposed $1.1 billion sales tax referendum that Greenville County voters will decide on Nov. 3.
The session is billed as Is It Really a Penny? and, according to the party, is meant to dig into the full cost of the plan, transparency concerns, how legal fees would be allocated and what the tax could mean over the long run.
Radio host Bill Frady will moderate. The panel includes Greenville County Council members Garey Collins and Kelly Long; Joe Dill, the Republican nominee for a County Council seat; Joe Farmer, chairman of the Greenville County Board of Tax Appeals; and Jeff Davis, who chairs the Greenville County Republican Party. Panelists plan to question hidden transaction costs, $150 million in new debt, and whether the money set aside for greenbelts and expanded mass transit matches what voters want.
The measure itself is a transportation penny tax approved by Greenville County Council. It would add a 1% sales-and-use tax for eight years. Under the county ordinance, 90% of the money would go to roads, 7% to greenbelts and 3% to public transportation, which works out to as much as $990 million for road work over the life of the tax. Groceries, gas and medication would be exempt.
The county has asked before: earlier penny tax referendums failed in 2014 and 2024. Supporters point to an estimated $3 billion backlog in county road and bridge needs, while critics argue the added cost is an unnecessary burden on residents.
Residents who want a different format have another option tonight: the League of Women Voters of Greenville County is holding its own town hall on the proposed taxes at 6 p.m. at the Hughes Main Library. City of Greenville voters will also see a separate city penny tax on their ballots, a plan the city says would raise $511 million over eight years. The county GOP has scheduled a second forum for Oct. 22 in Simpsonville.