GREENVILLE, S.C. — Voters inside the city of Greenville approved a new 1 percent sales tax on Tuesday, even as Greenville County voters turned down a countywide road tax for the second time in two years, unofficial results show.
Close to 67 percent of city voters backed the measure. It is expected to raise about $500 million over eight years for 521 listed projects, ranging from drainage fixes to a new fire station.
Mauldin, Simpsonville and Travelers Rest also passed their own city taxes. Mauldin approved its tax with just over 54 percent, Travelers Rest with nearly 57 percent and Simpsonville with a bit under 51 percent.
The city taxes were possible under a new state law that lets towns seek a penny tax when their county has none. The cities plan to send 80 percent of the money to capital projects and road repairs and 20 percent to property tax relief for owner-occupied homes.
The county plan would have raised $1.1 billion for highways, roads and bridges, plus parks, greenspace and Greenville Transit Authority upgrades. About 51.5 percent voted no. A companion question letting the county borrow $150 million against the tax is now moot. Two years ago, a comparable county proposal came up short by under 8,000 votes.
County leaders still face a road repair backlog estimated at $2 billion.
Section: More Greenville SC politics news
Filed under: Greenville SC Politics News
