Residents form group to get roads vote on November ballot

GREENVILLE, S.C. – A group of Greenville County residents have joined together in an effort to get a referendum on the ballot in November that would let voters decide whether to impose a 1 percent sales tax increase to fund local road repairs and improvements.

The group, Citizens for a Better Greenville County, was formed in response to a recent report created by the Greenville County Citizens Roads Advisory Commission. The report identified $600 million in a prioritized project list, according to a GSABusiness.com.

Group spokesman Bob Knight said they are in favor of passing the referendum for reasons including safety, economic development and quality of life.

“Our roads are in dire need of repair, and the longer we push off these repairs, the more it will cost,” Knight said.

According to Knight, state roads are currently on a 83-year repaving cycle and Greenville county roads are on a 51-year repaving cycle.

“This is the best opportunity in a generation to take action and repair our roadways,” he said.

Other groups that have come out in support of putting the measure on the ballot for voters to decide include the Home Builders Association of Greenville, the Greater Greenville Association of Realtors, the Greer Chamber of Commerce, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the Mauldin Chamber, and city councils in Travelers Rest, Greenville, Mauldin and Greer.

“If we want Greenville to be one of the premier places to live and work then we need to look at our infrastructure,” said Mike Freeman, president of the Home Builders Association of Greenville. “And it needs to be the people of Greenville who need to make the decision. Let the voters decide.”