In the News
" We understand why those urging Charleston County voters to approve a new sales tax proposal in a November referendum are campaigning under the name "Citizens for Safe Roads". It's because "Citizens for an unpopular and unnecessary third bridge to Johns Island that will cost at least $2.4 billion, probably more, and likely won't even be built as advertised" is much less persuasive (if more accurate). "
" Charleston County's Nov. 5 transportation sales tax referendum is not about roads. It’s about making money.
County voters are being asked to approve a $5.4 billion sales tax extension. Voters should go to the end of the ballot and vote "no" on this question."
" When the 526 crowd recently rolled out one of its top guns [Keith Summey], it was most telling not for what he said but what he didn’t say. Buckle up, folks: You can expect a lot more Hide the Highway baloney as they try to hustle your vote in November."
" Hilton Head Island is looking to replace the U.S. Highway 278 bridges that provide its only link to the mainland, and current plans call for new bridges that will have not two but three lanes in each direction on and off the island, for a total of six lanes. So why does Johns Island — which has a smaller population and a desire to keep part of its rural character intact — need 16 bridge lanes on and off it?."
"... the single project [Mark Clark Extension} that would take up almost half of the $5.4 billion the tax would raise is now also the least popular of all projects being placed before voters."
"If we were into conspiracy theories, we’d say the Charleston County Council was planning to mislead voters again into approving a sales tax to pay for the overpriced and ever-controversial extension of Interstate 526 from Citadel Mall to James Island."
" When Charleston County voters go to the polls this fall to decide if they want to raise their sales tax to pay for road improvements, most will want a sense of what they would be paying for.
However, a list of specific projects won’t appear anywhere on the ballot.
In fact, the only list of projects is tucked into the ordinance that County Council approved when it finalized the referendum earlier this month. And future councils can add or subtract from that list by amending the ordinance as they see fit."
