Penny sales tax to be on November ballot

Update (06/04/14):

GREENVILLE, S.C. – With an 8-3 vote by council members, the Greenville County penny roads tax ordinance passed the third and final reading Tuesday night.

The referendum to fund road improvement projects will be put to a public vote on the November 4th ballot.

County officials say the tax would generate as much as $65 million per year.

Update (05/21/14):

GREENVILLE, S.C. – With a 7-3 vote, the controversial Greenville County penny roads tax ordinance passed second reading Tuesday night, according to a report on GSABusiness.com.

The referendum still requires final approval from Council before being put to a public vote on the November ballot.

Read the entire GSABusiness report here.

Original story (May 9, 2014):

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Greenville County Council voted to move forward with a potential referendum for a 1 percent sales tax increase for road improvement projects, according to a report on GSABusiness.com.

On Tuesday, council members voted 8-3 to put the controversial referendum on the November ballot, giving area residents a chance to vote on the increase.

Council members Joe Dill, Willis Meadows and Sid Cates voted against the measure, with Jim Burns, Chairman Bob Taylor, Xanthene Norris, Liz Seman, Lottie Gibson, Butch Kirven, Fred Payne and Joseph Baldwin voting in favor.

A 1 percent sales tax increase would generate an estimated $65 million per year to fund a $650 million list of improvement projects, GSA reports.