Photo by Ken Ruinard
Congested traffic moves slowly past each traffic light Wednesday evening along Clemson Boulevard near Beltline Boulevard in Anderson. A proposed East-West Connector in Anderson, which would run from S.C. 81 and connect with Clemson Boulevard at East Beltline Boulevard, was one of the projects that would have benefited if voters had passed a capital project sales tax proposal on ballots Tuesday in Anderson County.
Photo by Ken Ruinard
Congested traffic moves slowly past each traffic light Wednesday evening along Clemson Boulevard near Beltline Boulevard in Anderson. A proposed East-West Connector in Anderson, which would run from S.C. 81 and connect with Clemson Boulevard at East Beltline Boulevard, was one of the projects that would have benefited if voters had passed a capital project sales tax proposal on ballots Tuesday in Anderson County.
Photo by Sefton Ipock
The defeated sales-tax increase means the Pendleton emergencey services will continue to operate out of their current facilities.
ANDERSON COUNTY — With the defeat of a capital projects sales tax proposal, municipalities throughout Anderson County are wondering where the money will come from to complete needed projects in their areas.
The seven-year, 1-cent sales tax initiative would have funded 124 projects all over the county totaling nearly $145 million in cost.
Proposed in 2007, the sales tax was developed using suggestions from the community about what projects that were most important to residents.
After six months of meetings, a list of nearly $800 million in projects was developed. That list was then narrowed to the list of projects most needed by the communities.
The projects ranged from the East-West Connector to a new public safety building in Pendleton to waterlines projects in the Starr-Iva area.
The question won in only six of Anderson County’s 76 precincts during Tuesday’s general election: Jackson Mill, Pendleton, Townville, Anderson 3/1, Anderson 4/1 and Anderson 4/2.
In Pendleton, the question’s failure means there will be no construction of a public safety building.
Currently, said Pendleton Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bobby Pruitt, the 42-year-old fire station has run out of room.
The department has been working with the city to build a new building. Without the sales tax, Pruitt said, there’s no telling from where money for the project would come.
“I am hoping to get with the mayor, council and the EMS board to see what we can figure out,” he said.
But it won’t bring the department to a halt.
“We’re not out of business, we’re still working,” Pruitt said. “We’ll survive, we’re just going to have to get something done in the near future.”
In Honea Path, plans to renovate the fire and police departments will go on hold, Mayor Earl Lollis Meyers said.
“I don’t guess we’ll do nothing. We’ll just have to stay with what we have,” he said. “We sure can’t expand nothing, because we don’t have the money.”
Meyers said residents blamed the economy on the referendums failure.
“I think people are concerned with the money and the economy as tight as it is. … That’s what I’m picking up from people around me,” Meyers said. “Now’s not the time to do it. Everybody is hurting.”
He said he plans to begin looking at the city’s budget to make the necessary repairs to the two buildings.
“We’re just going to have to look at it. We’re going to have to do some things regardless,” the mayor said. “We’ll just have to look at the economy and how things are going after the first quarter.”
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Comments » 49
truth4u writes:
Could be that the current economy is what caused this tax to fail. Or it could be that the people are just tired of the government asking for more and more money. Maybe those in charge should quit wasting the excessive amounts we already give and then there would be plenty to repave a few roads and build a building or two.
FLASH writes:
STOP ASKING FOR MORE. YOU ALREADY GET MORE THAN I BRING HOME. NOW IS NOT THE TIME. FOR GOODNESS SAKES, STOP LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS TO TAX US. WE ARE TAXED TO DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dgm1974 writes:
good thing all the time was wasted coming up with projects for the money to be spent on.
So how do we pay for the projects that so badly need to be done?
Unfortunately, paying taxes is how we have public services. Would the 1 penny tax each time you buy something really hurt you?
If you Purchase 10 Items a day, for 31 days. you spend $3.10 a month on this tax. $36.30 per year
Maybe I am not understanding, and it is late and my math could be very wrong, but I tell my self that $36.30 a year is not a huge tax.
Did people think it was a 1% tax? As I understand it ( I could be wrong) it would have been 1 penny on a pack of gum or 1 penny on a Flat screen HD TV.
Well it does not matter at this point......
my 2 cents....
Johnboy1966 writes:
Where does the taxation stop ? Its a penny this year, it'll be just another penny in two years and on and on it goes. The Government needs to learn to live within their own budget just like any other citizen does.
ashleycooper writes:
Look out if you are a property owner in Anderson County. You will probably end up footing the bill for many of these capital projects. Since the sales tax failed, look for property taxes to rise soon on your homes, cars, boats, businesses, etc. I hope I'm wrong, but that is what I am expecting. So, instead of spreading the tax around to everyone with a sales tax, I expect the new taxes for these projects to fall squarely on the shoulders of the folks who own any kind of real property. Only time will tell . . .
csariyadh#261856 writes:
Why can't they make cuts on some salaries? They are probably several people on the higher end making more than they deserve. I had to take a pay cut on my job to try and keep things going. They are already too many of us without work. I know it's just a penny but they will keep finding some way to tax us to death.
57freebird writes:
Years ago when I was in the rescue squad we did fundraisers because we recieved very little from the county. It is time people worked in their area for their projects and stop the metality we can get the goverment to tax (rob) every one and give us what we want.
Justmyopinion writes:
I think if Pendelton would re-instate their police department, and let them right tickets or set fines for crimes in that jurisdiction instead of the county getting the revinue the city would.......like it used to and in a year or so they would have the money for that project. The county gets all fines, and tickets now.......Pendelton used to get that money but the sheriff or soon to be ex....sheriff has been getting that money.
brks7 writes:
To dgm1974:
It is one penny per dollar spent. A flat screen TV at $1000 would have an extra $10 added to the cost had this passed. It adds up very quickly. Accountability is the best solution. When tax dollars are spent responsibly, the average person doesn't mind paying reasonable taxes.
yankee writes:
If the list on the referendum was only for roads and bridges, I would have supported it.
simpletaxpayer writes:
I tend to agree to a point, but again pointing to mismanagement of employee salaries in previous years, my hope is that the new council will fix the problem and cut the pork in county government. Cut backs are the main thing needed and then we can see our roads and bridges go forward. In order to accomplish the cuts, some peoples jobs need to be re-evaluated and slim a few salaries for overpaid employees and you will see some saved money!
ali writes:
I agree whole heartedly with CindyRoper. Get over it people. Enough is enough and we've had it with the goverments mantra, tax, tax, tax. Tighten your belts like the rest of us and prove you can be a good steward of the people's money. We're sick of the fees (hidden taxes), rising prop taxes, etc. NO MORE!
cherryj writes:
Yes, yes...you all voted against the sales tax and want the government to become transparent with their spending and cut fat. Well that's just not going to happen any time soon. The truth of the matter is that these projects are going to be pushed through for completion and here's where the concept of "no free lunch" comes in for the great folks of Anderson. The money will come from somewhere, but where. You all voted down the 1% sales tax, a tax that would sting a little but would also be funded by all of the great consumers coming across the state line to shop in Anderson from Elberton, Hart, and Franklin counties...not just from Anderson residents. By voting down the sales tax you eliminated a huge source of revenue for paying the bill for all of these projects. Now where will the money come from...hmmm I wonder? Don't be surprised when you get the next tax bill for your vehicle or home and your rates have trippled. We have a bad government in place, nothing you can do about it right now. These projects are going to be done, nothing you can do about it. It will take money to do it so who's going to pay? You are because you voted against a sales tax that would have been paid by a larger population base instead of a dreadful property tax that us few Anderson residents now will have to suffer.
redrider2k5 writes:
waste not, want not.
zeldaz writes:
CindyRoper and the rest of Anderson County’s thorns, I am so completely fed up with your continued accusations of malfeasance in Anderson County and the personal attacking of individuals! There is cause for the rest of us to raise arms and fight back. Do you know why we hesitate, because you can’t teach or communicate with someone that has their fingers in their ears and will NOT listen to any other views? You have been told repeatedly that Anderson County has a clean audit….you won’t hear that because of your childish fingers in your ears. Matter of fact, every time that it is told while in your presence, you get louder with FORESNIC AUDIT, he stole our money, cut the fat, fire the Administrator, etc.
Then Dan Harvell actually has the audacity to end an article on the non passage of the 1 cent sales tax with: ““It will take lots of tax dollars to catch up,” Harvell said. “It will be the new council’s job to figure out how the new taxes will be spent. The maintenance work will have to be done.” Also Harvell said that the next issue for the county council in January will be to find money to fix and repair roads in Anderson. Excuse me…….Anderson County voters just voted down THE way to find money to fix and repair roads in Anderson! But, that’s not all……” “It will be the new council’s job to figure out how the new taxes will be spent”. Huh! Dan, WHAT NEW TAXES????????
People, PLEASE take your blasted fingers out of your ears for one second. There is no malfeasance, there is a clean audit, there is no stolen money, there is NO FAT (remember, the entire County staff worked hard to cut the budget for the past two years) and to fire our Administrator because of the few thorns that are paranoid about any and everything is absurd!
Ever “idea” that comes from the mouths of these thorns is riddled with costing more money to reach no gain! A forensic audit is exceptionally cost prohibitive. Firing the Administrator will cost a whole lot more to replace in salary. Why? Because what person is so insane as to accept a job in this County as Administrator after the things you all have done to the leadership here? Allowing (by your votes in June) and abetting certain council members to still serve on council even after they have consciously and intentionally hurt our county financially and in reputation is completely idiotic!
It is time for anyone who has their fingers in their ears to pull them out and listen. It doesn’t matter who you voted for, because what’s done is done. What matters is that when the sun came up this morning, we are all still part of the same community. What matters the most is that hate should have no place in our lives or our county government. ! It is time for all of Anderson County to unite together for the common good of our County! Actually, it is way past time, way past time………
ElCid writes:
The economy was not the reason, it was just a bad proposal - too much pork. That's why it never even made it to the ballot two years ago.
They will be back in two years, but hopefully they will do it right next time.
NO elected officials,government employees or consultants on the commission. One commissioner per council district. ONLY roads and bridges with an equal division throughout the county based on combination of population, road mileage and road condition. The East-West Connector comes at the end of the list instead of the beginning.
Maybe a three part proposal with a separate vote on each -roads and bridges, water & sewer and "quality of life" items.
There is plenty of federal and state money out there, but it all goes to streetscapes, sidewalks, athletic fields, walking trails, building renovations, parks and so on. May all be nice to have, but we need to get the feds and state to take off the restrictions and let the money be spent on real infrastructure-NOW.
Remember everybody's property taxes are going up and that also means rents will go up and businesses will have to raise their prices.
andersonnews2008#274603 writes:
Liz,
The last line of your lede should have been:
"ANDERSON COUNTY — With the defeat of a capital projects sales tax proposal, municipalities throughout Anderson County are wondering where the money will come from to start projects in their areas."
Projects must be started before they can be completed. More importantly, "need" is subjective; just as "want" is.
andersonnews2008#274603 writes:
Liz,
The last line of your lede should have been:
"ANDERSON COUNTY — With the defeat of a capital projects sales tax proposal, municipalities throughout Anderson County are wondering where the money will come from to start projects in their areas."
Projects must be started before they can be completed. More importantly, "need" is subjective; "want" is more objective.
simpletaxpayer writes:
I am not siding with Dan Harvell or Cindy Roper. I am speaking from the standpoint of the excessive spending for salaries of Anderson County Government Employees (way overpaid). Look for yourself, it is a matter of public record. Cut the salaries, you will find money for the roads and bridges. Let the towns pay for their own projects, tax their own residents, not the entire county.
For example, explain to me how I would benefit from Pendleton having a new Public Safety Building?? I live in Anderson, not Pendleton!!!
I do not advocate a full forensic audit, way too much spending anyway, but, look into ways to cut spending instead of hiring more people or figuring ways to manipulate the system to hide salary increases within the ranks. It happens people, it happens a lot.
zeldaz writes:
simpletaxpayer,
Thank you for your response. As for the 1 cent sales tax - I felt the same at first but then after researching, found that the way to look at that proposal was as a "whole". In reality, I was not overly fond of the connector being first on the list, but I saw dire need for some of the other repairs/replaces on the list. So I gave it my "yes" vote.
I also understand that there are alot of people on any payroll that may appear by the outside as being over paid. However, I firmly believe that the vast majority are being paid at or below their contributions to their employer. This is simply a risk/reward equation.
Again, I know that our County has looked hard and long at ways to make the budget go farther over the past years. I think their progress should be commended. But I do think that, as we do at our homes, one should always be on the lookout to save money.
This kind of dialogue that you and I are sharing is exactly what Anderson County needs! I know that solutions can be found if all people unite, quit throwing bricks and expecting all houses to be glass, and have a true desire to "play well with others".
momagain45 writes:
Excellent post! I agree 100%. A three part proposal with a separate vote on each is a great idea. I voted no only because the East-West Connector was the first project on the list.
fatherof4 writes:
If our tax dollars were being spent wisely and efficiently, I would have no problem with the tax, but they are not and enough is enough. If we do not draw the line they will keep taking the easy way and create new taxes! That's MY 1 cent, I mean 2 cents!
waiting writes:
I voted YES, and I am taxed to death. WHy did I vote yes? Look at the big picture: This tax would have funded public services. These projects are going to have to be funded; now, most likely these will be funded by property taxes. I pay plenty in property taxes, too much!! The vast majority of property taxes come from the middle class who own homes and cars. Deadbeats and illegals do not pay property taxes, but they DO purchase!! This is hte only fair tax that does not tax people who are here legally and work each day trying to have something!
Anderson County voters really dropped the ball on this one! Just sit back and pay for it thru property taxes while others benefit from your tax payments!!
ali writes:
To ElCid, very well put. You rattled off in a matter of minutes a more well thought out plan than the planning commission who created this wish list was able to produce in months of "study". The point was made that someone voted for the increase because there were a few necessities on it, although they disagreed with all the pork. That's the problem. We were asked to swallow all the pork for the good of the county. Well I believe the leaders should eliminate the pork for the good of the county, so necessary infrastructure repair can happen. The people have sent the message, the buck stops here. They should keep this in mind when putting together future proposals, if they're to have any chance of succeeding. It's almost Christmas but I think Santa's taking a holiday this year. Trim that list and cut the pork, then' we'll talk.
ali writes:
You're making the assumption that, if passed, the 1 cent increase would have resulted in a lower property tax bill for Anderson residents. I have a sneeky suspicion, if past experience is an indicator, that our prop tax bills would have looked the same regardless of passage of the 1 cent increase. You really think they would've given us, the prop owner's, a break? When have you ever known government in this area not to gouge the residents at every opportunity? If they were seriously concerned about roads, then why all the pork and why put the east-west connector at the top of the list? Ridiculous!
waiting writes:
No, I am not making an assumption of reduced property tax. My only assumption in no increase in the property taxes to provide for these expenditures. But more than that: This would have been a more fair tax to the citizens of Anderson County and the surrounding areas. USERS would pay this tax, not so much just hardworking people and their families. Everyone would pay!
cherryj writes:
That's what I tried to say earlier in the comment section, Waiting. The projects are going to be accomplished and the money has to come from somewhere, we are going to be taxed no matter what. The sales tax might not have REDUCED our property taxes, but at least they wouldn't have increased, which is their only option now. At least the sales tax would have spread the burden around to consumers from outside the county and state (Hart, Elbert, Franklin, etc) so that the full burden did not fall on property owners of Anderson County.
kickit writes:
I'm speaking only for the portion Honea Path wanted. They pay Mr. Burns to go out & look for money like this. If they were hurting, they would not drive the city vehicles you see around the town. If the roofs need work, do the work and wait on the unnecessary luxury of remodeling. Surely you can do both roofs for under $600K don't you think?
StupidShouldHurtMore writes:
Zeldaz,
Fear not. Sometimes you have to give folks enough rope to hang themselves with. It will be interesting, in two years, to see how this new group will "spin" the lack of infrastructure improvements, the failing roads, and the fact that to correct the problems, property owners will have to again eat a tax hike.
Or we could wait for the political neophyte to suggest eliminating portions of County Government that are mandated by state law . . .
Just two more years Zeldaz ... two more years - and this will all be done.
SALES TAX (hits everyone) versus PROPERTY TAX (hits only property owners). It's a shame this community can't bottle up stupid and sell it ... we have it by the TON.
... stupids ... everywhere ...
- SSHM
waiting writes:
Exactly. Exactly. No doubt about it---we are OVER taxed now.
But with this tax, EVERYONE would have contributed, not just property owners.I fail to understand how any intelligent person could not understand this concept.
cherryj writes:
I couldn't agree more SSHM. When these folks complain of potholes and crumbling infrastructure in a few years that's all this newspaper will be clogged with is complaints that the county government hasn't done anything and they'll get even more peeved when the county's only recourse is to jack up property taxes when we could have easily fixed this with a 1% sales tax.
mom2two writes:
$24 million??? where do you get these numbers? I mean, do you just pull them out of the air to make people go nuts, or do you actually look at things and then increase them exponentially to make your point more dramatic...
Council gets a little over $2 million a year split between all seven council members to spend on road improvements. so I guess if you're talking about all 12 years of Joey Preston's tenure, because everything has to go back to Joey with you, then that would equal $24 million... but if you look at the county packet, every single penny of that money is accounted for and spent on roads in each district. It's not spent on 501(c)3s...it's spent on roads... it's not enough, it's not nearly enough with the cost of asphalt rising like it is, but it would take council relinquishing its control over those accounts and handing it back to the transportation dept. if there was a more screwed up way to do roads, I don't know what it is. but, it's all accounted for... it's all there, every penny.
the discretionary fund amounts to $210,000 a year - so if we look at that over 12 years we're looking at another $2.52 million... could that have been spent on roads? Sure, if council had ever voted on doing that, but instead, it was spent on things like Fusion, and fire departments, and the Honea Path Arts Center and Hanna-Westside Extension Campus. And again, all that is listed in the council's packet that is posted online.
Try telling the whole truth, not just the parts that are convenient for your particular point.
and, you know.... i seem to recall reading somewhere that Joey got more than $170 MILLION in grants for the county. I guess you'll say now that all of that went to line his pockets and not to the projects they were supposed to go to.
in the words of Mrs. Knight, Bobby's wife - "the horse is dead, get off it."
petergibbons writes:
To our leaders:
I believe we need to put the East-West Connector to bed already. This whole referendum was a big ploy to get this one project moving. Someone in Anderson really wants this thing to happen, and the citizens and taxpayers have turned it down flat. This project is a big, fat pain in our side, and we do not need to keep bringing it up. Dumping more traffic onto Clemson Boulevard is not going to help the traffic situation on Brown Road or Concord. That goes for widening Whitehall Road. That is one big mystery, as well. It is already four lanes, running into a six-lane Clemson Boulevard. It is not needed. These projects are NOT considered GROWTH, as some would want us to believe. Anderson is a small town, and will always be a small town. That's why people like it here. Quit trying to make it into a Greenville or another Atlanta. However big we make Anderson, these other towns will grow, too, and we will still be the small town. If you keep it up, we will eventually will be living on top of one another like many, many towns and cities across America.
We do have a large percentage of Georgia residents that shop in Anderson, but they are starting to figure out that they can build shopping areas and restaurants in Georgia, too. Their numbers will start to decline in the coming years.
The number of sustainable restaurants in Anderson has saturated, and we see that with regular closings throughout the year, leaving empty buildings & eyesores in their place.
I have a proposal. Those people that want to pay the extra taxes for these projects can be given a "Tax Card," much like your grocery card. And, whenever you scan it while shopping, you can pay the extra taxes. If you think that is too much burden on too few people, then think about the 25-40% we already pay the Federal Government, the 5-10% we pay state government, and the local 5-6% we already pay. It does add up, and it has to stop somewhere. It may as well be here.
Stop building roads and creating "projects" that we cannot maintain.
yankee writes:
Everyone pays property taxes (except for non-profits, who also don't pay sales tax), even renters.
The arguement that only "property owners" pay taxes is a farce.
Give it up already.
The measure was defeated.
momagain45 writes:
I understood completely that everyone would contribute, not just property owners. It was a great idea. Unfortunately I could not vote yes because the East-West Connector was the first project. If it were last, okay. I am not the only person that felt this way. Everyone I talked to about this said the same thing. The East-West Connecctor was not the most important project on the list and did not deserve to be the first project.
I fully expect to PAY the price for my decision and am prepared to do so.
simpletaxpayer writes:
[and, you know.... i seem to recall reading somewhere that Joey got more than $170 MILLION in grants for the county. I guess you'll say now that all of that went to line his pockets and not to the projects they were supposed to go to.]
Maybe not to line his pockets, although to some extent it did. It also lined the pockets of the employees who got the grant money and spent it on frivilous items that are rarely used. LOOK AROUND, you can find all sorts of items in this county that GRANT MONEY bought.
And some of the ones who "got" the money are being paid well for it. Although in one instance, others found the grant money, but only one or two of their bosses are slurping from the trough!!!!
Get rid of pork spending in government by reducing salaries and then lets build ROADS AND BRIDGES, not PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDINGS FOR MUNICIPALITIES!!!!! Do like the city of Anderson did, get a bond and pay for it.
ConcernedCitizen25 writes:
It was a 1% tax -- or one penny for every dollar spent.
StupidShouldHurtMore writes:
Yankee,
You are wrong, at least in part.
Renters do not pay taxes on PROPERTY. Renters, if they own a car, a motorcycle, etc, then, and only then, would they pay taxes - vehicle taxes.
Homeowners pay both PROPERTY and VEHICLE taxes.
Not everyone in this county owns a car. Many own motorcycles and or mopeds as their primary and often ONLY form of transportation. I'd wager you get more taxes from a house than a moped.
So ... if EVERYONE paid on sales tax, rather than on the what-if-who-owns-what approach of property tax, you could gather the funds faster and in a way that is fair to all.
The measure is on hold. Mark my words - it will be back.
- SSHM
scclemgirl writes:
if you go on the web page for public access you will see that our property taxes are going up this year. the bills have not been sent out, but it will show you on there what your property taxes are going to be this year and YES they did go up.
ali writes:
SSHM state "The measure is on hold. Mark my words - it will be back."
Maybe you're correct, maybe it will be back. But those of us who oppose it will still be here and if it's still stuffed with pork and the east-west connector, our answer will be the same.
ali writes:
Good point scclemgirl. They always go up and with or without the 1 cent increase, they will still go up, which is another reason I opposed it. I don't buy into the theory that the 1 cent increase will replace raising of our prop taxes, just won't happen. They'd raise the prop taxes anyway, pocket the money, and increase spending.
Aventer writes:
What in the world are we to do in 8 years when the roads that are not on the list need to be paved or the bridges not on the list need to be repaired.
And you want to build more roads we can't afford to maintain? Sounds like someone needs to think ahead. This one cent tax to repair roads and bridges may have passed if it was written with common sense instead of political wishes.
I would have voted differently if it had been for roads and bridges only.
voicefromAnderson writes:
Everyone needs to get over it for now, we voted it down and thats the it. If it comes up again we will vote it down again, plan and simple. Why does some people want to make things seem so difficult.
andersonnativejtm writes:
That is your response?
She was offering public figures and refuting your misleading statements.
Instead of explaining from where your figures were derived, you accuse her of stalking Joey Preston.
Wow.
goat34#207179 writes:
Why is it that everyone that disagrees with you is stupid??? Who died and made you the judge of people???? I personally think you are the stupid one in this forum! And if you don't like the way the majority of Anderson County voted please feel free to take your stupid butt elsewhere!!!!
StupidShouldHurtMore writes:
Not stupid goat ... ignorant.
Ignorance is temporary. Stupid is forever. Honestly, there are a lot of stupid people in this town. Folks running about with their ears plugged up, closing their eyes and supporting/agreeing with rumor and innuendo because it is EASIER to UNDERSTAND than the TRUTH.
If people would look beyond the thirty second soundbites or simply stop waiting to be spoon-fed what they believe the truth to be, you would have a populace that is educated and understands the merits and efforts of the past twelve years. They would also understand that the mistakes of some of the earliest County Councils in Anderson have put us where we are today.
If I can't demonstrate that to you and others through FACTS, FIGURES, and the TRUTH ... well then ... the monkier sticks.
... stupid ...
- SSHM
PS: The tax will be back. Either in a sales tax form (easier to stomach) or in a property tax hike. It really does not matter to me which way it happens at this point. We still have some of THE LOWEST taxes in the STATE. Sad - you'd never know it as you never leave Anderson.
StupidShouldHurtMore writes:
Miss Roper,
Maybe if I used crayons and colored outside the lines, this might make sense to you. Then again, I doubt it. Nonetheless, here is the TRUTH, yet again ... WITH FACTS and WITH FIGURES:
"So - it's apparently time for a history lesson to explain, yet again, why we are asking for a penny. I'll keep it as brief as possible.
In 1972, Congress passed the General Revenue Sharing Act, which provided THIRTY BILLION DOLLARS (think $30 billion in 1972 dollars and cents, folks)over 5 years, provided funding to state and local governments according to a formula based on relative population and incomes.
The catch: You had to ask for it.
Greenville and Spartanburg Counties did. Anderson County DID NOT.
Yes folks - In those early days of home rule, we had a golden opportunity to build out infrastructure, with FEDERAL DOLLARS and at prices relative to the 1970s.
Fast-forward to our current decade. Stacked behind the 8-ball, we are now faced with two daunting tasks:
1.) Develop infrastructure (roads, bridges, water, sewer, etc) to land new jobs and new businesses.
2.) Maintain our existing roads, bridges, water, sewer, etc.
Did I mention we are doing this with 2008 dollars and not 1970s dollars too?
The people say pave our roads. Ok - we pave. People complain that we don't have enough jobs. OK - we try to recruit new businesses. Businesses don't come due to a lack of infrastructure. OK - we try to build new infrastructure. People complain that our roads are falling apart. OK - so we pave.
... and thus the cycle continues without end."
Those are the facts my fellow ignorant Andersonian. It will be up to you and to other drones/lemmings/mindless and mind-numbed residents to see the truth for what it is ... and by God it must hurt at this point.
... stupid ...
- SSHM
olereb writes:
CONSIDERING THE PORK SPENDING AT THE BROADWAY LAKE CLUB HOUSE FOR GRACIE.WHAT'S NEXT? MAYBE A GOLFING COUNTRY CLUB. THAT WAY YOU CAN DEBATE NEW TAXES TO FILL THE BOOZE CABINETS.
33dtb writes:
I think Obama (& our grandchildren) and SCDOT are already building the Connector as we speak.
It was always going to be a State Road anyway. We were just going to pay the INFLATED SCDOT price for the road.
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