Funding roads requires voter approval

Dorchester County leaders are eyeing a plan that would raise roughly $735,000,000 for roads

Dorchester County leaders are considering a plan that would raise roughly $735,000,000 for roads, but they need voter support to approve the move.

In 2004, the Dorchester County voters passed a referendum that has since raised more than $220 million for roads. That penny sales tax is set to expire in April 2024.

“It’s amazing what happened,” Bill Hearn, County Council Chairman, said at a meeting of Chamber members this month. The penny raised more money than expected in a quicker time frame.

Now County leaders want to continue the momentum. They want to pass a second referendum. The move wouldn’t actually increase taxes this time. It would simply continue the rate residents and visitors are already paying.

If voters pass the referendum in November, the County conservatively expects to raise $735 million over the course of 15 years.

“A penny is a very powerful thing,” Hearn said. “If this penny doesn’t pass, there will be no revenue for roads.”

Road work is desperately needed for the vitality and quality of life in the County.

The Chamber worked in 2004 to study and identify the most needed road work. The Chamber began working on the second list of needs in 2017.

The County plans to make improvements to several roads that would have an impact on the overall region. Those roads include Dorchester Road, Orangeburg Loop (Orangeburg, Mallard, and Jedburg Roads), Miles Jamison Road, US Highway 78, SC Highway 173 (Myers Mayo Road), Glenn McConnell Parkway, Patriot Boulevard and Wescott Boulevard; Maple Street Extension; Cedar Street Extension; and Ladson Road Extension.

Projects of more local impact are in the works too. Those include improvements to US Highway 17A, Central Avenue, Midland Parkway, Parsons Road, Delemar Highway, Wright Road, SC Highway 61, SC Highway 27, US Highway 15, Givhans Ferry Road, Ridge Road, Wire Road, Second Bend Road, Seven Mile Road, Stallsville Loop, William Canady Road, Old Tower Road and Schultz Lake Road; Old Fort Road Extension.

The County also hopes to work on pavement preservation, dirt road improvements; and intersection and safety upgrades.

A portion ($35 million) of the sales tax can also be used for greenbelt projects like trails, bike, and pedestrian options.