What to know about proposed 1% penny sales tax in Anderson County. What is exempt?

Anderson County council members are hoping changes to the proposed 1% penny sales tax on the November 2025 ballot will be supported by voters.

“The roads need to be fixed, and we’re looking at options like this sales tax to fund essential infrastructure projects,” Councilman Chris Sullivan said at the August 19 council meeting.

“The options are limited, and this proposed 1% penny sales tax on the upcoming ballot is different from the one last year,” he said.

This time, Anderson County has made adjustments to ensure transparency and direct allocation of funds to the most critical infrastructure needs, according to members of the council.

“The last time, in November, the question was very general, simply asking for a 1% tax to fix the roads,” Councilman Jimmy Davis said at the meeting. “This time, it’s quite the opposite. We have a question on the ballot that is very specific, detailing exactly which roads are to be fixed, and those roads will be listed on the ballot question.

“The sales tax has a clear ending date, providing voters with assurance that it won’t continue indefinitely without reevaluation,” he said. “Once it expires, the council at that time can decide whether or not to propose it again based on the community’s needs.”

Proposed One Percent Sales Tax: What to know

Anderson County Council approved the final reading of the proposed one percent sales tax on August 5.

This tax would raise $379.6 million over eight years and be used to improve infrastructure.

According to the Anderson County referendum proposal notice, the tax will be used to defray the costs of the projects authorized by the initiative.

The referendum question includes authorization for the issuance of general obligation bonds, not exceeding $20 million, to help defray the costs of these capital projects.

This additional funding method aims to provide the county with the necessary financial flexibility to ensure the timely completion of infrastructure improvements, according to officials.

During the meeting, councilman Jimmy Davis stressed the importance of transparency and accountability between local governments and the community.

“I feel like voters in Anderson County have a right to be able to study that and make that determination themselves,” he said. “That’s why I’m going to vote for this proposed one percent sales tax on the November ballot to allow taxpayers the opportunity to see exactly where the money’s expected to go.”

In the meeting, Davis said that these funds would be audited every year by the state, “so residents can rest assured that their contributions are being utilized as promised.”

What is exempt from the proposed tax?

If approved by voters, the tax would generate 35% of the revenue coming from visitors, and is projected to generate approximately $352 million.

The proposed ballot question would ask voters if they approve a special one percent sales tax in Anderson County.

The following items will be exempt.

• Unprepared foods and groceries.

• Prescription drugs and medicines

“Unprepared foods, like a can of green beans from the grocery store, will not be subject to the sales tax,” Davis said. “However, if you purchase prepared foods, such as fried chicken and macaroni and cheese from the Ingles hot bar, those items will incur the additional tax.”

When would sales tax go in effect?

If the penny sales tax passes, the tax will be in effect from May 2026 until April 2034.

When would repaving projects go into effect?

Additionally, if the county council approves a bond for the program, repaving projects could start as early as the summer of 2026.

Notable projects to be funded by one-percent sales tax in Anderson County

According to the Anderson County referendum proposal, $277.9 million will be used for 271 paving and road projects, including but not limited to the following.

• Plantation Road – all county-owned segments between East River Street and Highway 29 N. (Nevitt Forest Area).

• Mt. Airy Church Road from Hwy 81 N. to Three Bridges Road (Powdersville Area)

• East Main Street from South Mechanic Street to Lebanon Road (Pendleton)

• First Street from South Academy Street to the town limits (Williamston)

• North Main/South Main Streets from Calhoun Road to Guthrie Road (Belton)

• Dixon Road from Whitehall Road to Old Pearman Dairy Road (Anderson County, Centerville)

• Keys Street from Brookhaven Drive to Gleneddie Road (Anderson City, Homeland Park)

• Shiloh Church Road from Highway 17 to Highway 86 (Anderson County)

• Breazeale Road from Highway 29 to Midway Road (Belton)

• Monitor Drive from Dobbins Bridge Drive to Lewis Street (Anderson County).

• West Mauldin Street from Main Street to Bleckley Street (Anderson City)

• Broadway Lake Road from the spillway bridge to Parnell Road (Broadway Lake Area)

• Griffin Farm Road from Jones Chapel Road to Firetower Road (Craytonville/Honea Path Area)

$49.3 million for 18 safety projects, including but not limited to the following.

• Oak Hill Road/Harriet Circle addresses the lack of turning lanes (Anderson County).

• Vandiver Road Pedestrian Safety addresses pedestrian safety (Anderson County).

• Pine Top Road/James Cox Road/US 178 (Anderson Highway) intersection to be addressed (Belton)

• Centerville Road/Keasler Road to address the lack of turn lanes and angle intersections (Anderson County, Centerville)

• Calhoun Street/Marchbanks Road/Rogers Road are to be addressed for a skewed intersection with high traffic volume in the City of Anderson.

• Concord Road/King Road/Reed Road to address offset intersections and sight distance (City of Anderson)

$52.2 million for 17 bridge/culvert projects, including but not limited to the following.

• Scotts Bridge Road over Jones Creek (Anderson County)

• Mullikin Road to Little Garvin Creek (Pendleton Area)

• Durham Road over Hurricane Creek (Anderson County)

• Parker Bowie Road over Little Generostree Creek (Iva)

Community stance on proposed 1% penny sales tax

At the August 19 Council meeting, Lois Nole, a District 4 resident, voiced her frustration with the proposed tax. “The roads have been neglected for so long now they’re just terrible,” she said. “Roads should have been thought about a long time before now.”

She criticized the local government for allocating funds to other large projects. “I think we need roads a lot more than we need those types of projects,” she said.

“South Carolina already has the highest taxes in the South, and now the local government wants to add on even more with this penny sales tax.”

At the meeting, Ronald Fowler, a retired minister, expressed his concerns about the proposed tax.

“Listening to people in my area, I’m wondering, with all the new homes going up in Anderson County and the new residents paying taxes, we should have plenty of money for infrastructure improvements,” he said.

“Everywhere you look, more developments are going up,” Fowler said. “With so much more money coming in, if they’re paying taxes like the rest of us, the local government shouldn’t have a hard time finding funds for roads and infrastructure.

“I’m also concerned about some of the people in my district, because they’re elderly,” Fowler said. “Widows and retirees are already struggling, and I don’t see taxing those people as a viable solution. I have compassion for them, and I want to ensure they have something to live on. I’m disappointed that this council wants to tax people like that.”

County Council doubles down on proposed 1% sales tax

“I’ve heard from many residents who feel this solution doesn’t quite address our community’s long-term needs,” Sullivan said at the meeting. “However, this is a county-wide solution to bring roads up to speed.

“I have an open mind, and I’m willing to consider all options, including implementing developer fees in the future to address the wear and tear on these roads,” he said.

Anderson County seems to agree that the roads need urgent attention, Sullivan said.

“The proposed 1% sales tax on the November ballot is an option worth considering. This is why I’m supporting it,” he said. “I don’t want to burden Anderson County folks any more than possible. This way, a significant amount of the costs will be covered by out-of-town visitors, alleviating the pressure on residents.”

Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: What Anderson County voters need to know about proposed penny sales tax