What if I drove an electric car? I still use the roads right? Must tax them somehow.
OT: SC Roads............
- Thread starter Freddie.B.Cocky
- Start date
The House passed a roads plan. The Senate was about to pass a roads plan as well. That would have led to negotiations and I believe a final plan that the Governor would have signed. But a single Senator started a filibuster and killed it all. I do not remember who it was, but for a single senator to be able to completely kill a plan as important as that roads bill is ridiculous. Everyone was ready for a roads plan but this one Senator that stopped it all because he was not willing to vote for a gas tax increase.
I live in Lancaster and still have to use a dirt road to get to my house-been dirt for at least 30-35 yrs. At least they put in a drainage pipe a few years back in a place that always held water when it rained. The road I have to use to get to my road is a dead end and has not been repaved since it was built-maybe 40 yrs ago. It had a pothole in it one time that was three ft wide and about 6 inches deep. They are always having to come and repair the holes. It would be cheaper to repave it.
I feel as other posters. Raise the gas tax but be sure the money is spent on roads.
I feel as other posters. Raise the gas tax but be sure the money is spent on roads.
I hope Rock Hill and Fort Mill is enjoying that money because Clover and York aren't getting a dime of it!
That does happen- has always happened- will continue to happen to some degree in every society in the world. Not passing an increase in gas taxes won't change that fact.
However, it is not as common a practice as most citizen think it is - and I know because I worked at the state house for a senator.
Do you think Steve Spurrier and Frank Martin get some freebies? I have news for you- they do. But is it something that's common and happens all the time? Of course not. I also have news for you- big time business owners get freebies too. So of course, some of that happens with politicians. Is it a situation where they are taking our tax money and spending it on their private functions to any great degree? No.
However, it is not as common a practice as most citizen think it is - and I know because I worked at the state house for a senator.
Do you think Steve Spurrier and Frank Martin get some freebies? I have news for you- they do. But is it something that's common and happens all the time? Of course not. I also have news for you- big time business owners get freebies too. So of course, some of that happens with politicians. Is it a situation where they are taking our tax money and spending it on their private functions to any great degree? No.
I hate the idea of a gas tax increase- but I realize the great need for additional funds for roads - and I want my children to have better roads to drive on in 5-10 years because quite honestly- I am afraid for their safety on the roads in South Carolina.
I-20 near malfunction junction is a total mess on most afternoons - totally clogged with traffic- and you have to add an hour onto your travel plans to get through that total mess on a weekend in the summer.
Our population is growing fast in SC but our citizens don't seem to want to spend more money on our roads. It doesn't make sense.
So pass a gas tax increase- and take a small portion of that money to create a small office of inspector general for roads who is charged with auditing and releasing a public report every year in April that details the monies collected for the previous year, and the roads built, maintained, and the companies that were paid- and the amounts.
I-20 near malfunction junction is a total mess on most afternoons - totally clogged with traffic- and you have to add an hour onto your travel plans to get through that total mess on a weekend in the summer.
Our population is growing fast in SC but our citizens don't seem to want to spend more money on our roads. It doesn't make sense.
So pass a gas tax increase- and take a small portion of that money to create a small office of inspector general for roads who is charged with auditing and releasing a public report every year in April that details the monies collected for the previous year, and the roads built, maintained, and the companies that were paid- and the amounts.
It does - but big trucks take a toll on roads too
The problem isn't just such trucks- the problem is a fast growing state population, coupled with too many citizens that don't want to spend anything more to fix the roads.
They prefer to pay the same think they paid 25 years ago which isn't reasonable. .
The problem isn't just such trucks- the problem is a fast growing state population, coupled with too many citizens that don't want to spend anything more to fix the roads.
They prefer to pay the same think they paid 25 years ago which isn't reasonable. .
I'm sorry, but "we haven't raised the tax rate in a long time" isn't a justification for raising taxes. Fact is, SC has a lot more drivers, buying many more gallons of gas, than it did in 1987. If that tax rate was enough to fund the roads in 1987, that rate _should_ be enough to fund them in 2015. The money has either been mismanaged or the news roads and bridges were over-built with no money budgeted for maintenance. Either way, it shouldn't give us a lot of confidence about giving them even more of our money to manage.
For what it's worth, SC doesn't have a monopoly on dirt roads. I do a lot of driving in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. All of those states spend a lot more money on roads than SC does and the roads - those that aren't giant parking lots during rush hours - aren't noticeably better, in my opinion. And if you get out in the rural areas, there are plenty of dirt roads, some that you practically need a 4X4 to navigate.
SC ain't perfect, but I'd rather have cheap gas and questionable roads than expensive gas and still have questionable roads.
Revenue grows when the population grows. Whether it's gas tax, property tax, or sales tax, additional population means more money. You don't have to raise tax rates to accommodate more people. Local government leaders always use population growth as a justification for new taxes to hide their fiscal mismanagement. The new population (customers) should be able to pay for themselves at the existing tax rates - unless your state and local government has squandered they money they already had.
I think some of you are missing the point. I looked at a gas tax map and most of the southern tier of states (other than GA and NC) have rates that are comparable with SC. I recently returned to SC from PA where I lived for 24 years. The gas tax in PA was $.41 (recently increased to the highest in the country at $.51) and their roads and bridges are in total disrepair. I lived in western PA and I can assure you that roads in Columbia, as well as the traffic, are a piece of cake compared to Pittsburgh. Could SC roads be improved? Sure, but they are not that bad. You get little weather damage, don't use much salt and your interstates are in pretty good shape. Now SC drivers are another issue. Does everyone in this state believe they have to drive close enough to my bumper to read the fine print on my bumper stickers? Worst state for tailgaters I have ever seen and I have lived in about half the states and traveled to all but Alaska. No wonder my car insurance almost doubled when I moved back. Anyway, higher gas taxes does not necessarily mean better roads or bridges.
Before we jump another tax up, the people need to know where that road money has gone. How about some verification? Just raise your hand and jack up a tax every time there is an issue. Where do your registration fees for your vehicles and licensing fees go?
Fred B OUT OF ORDER and knows nothing of the problem. FBOOO there's a ton of money channeled to roads, both intrastate and local but it goes into the pockets of local interests for their pet projects. Please buy your gas in NC and enjoy it in NC
Like I said...stick to your NC business
Like I said...stick to your NC business
I travel a lot for my job. Probably 10 states. Yes our roads are not good but roads in other states are just as bad or worse. Funny thing is when I am out of state I hear those people complaining about their roads too
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Well, I don't claim to know what the problem is in SC. However, I do know SC has horrible roads, especially compared to NC. And since I travel a lot in SC to see the Gamecocks play and to visit family, it is my business. I pay SC taxes when I buy gas in SC, my wife and I shop a lot at the Westgate and Heyward Malls and pay taxes on the goods we purchase. The roads in SC are horrible on tires. The stretch of I-85 between Greenville and the Chessnee exit (78) is a horrible section of road for an interstate. I have never driven on an interstate in NC that was anywhere nearly as bad at the stretch of I-85 I just mentioned.
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Yeah Pittsburgh is really an undiscovered gem. People are friendly, the economy is based on health care, education and natural gas development. Housing prices are reasonable, but like all of PA, taxes are high. I try to get back to see friends at least twice a year.
Let's face reality: you can't build 21st century roads for the price we paid in 1987. We just can't. Who works construction and wants to make what they made in 1987? It's not reasonable.
Let's face it, we aren't paying 1987 prices. We have way more money just from population increase so more taxes are collected. If you think for one minute that we are using the same amount of gas as we did in 1987, I got some prime land to sell you. truth is, money is grossly being mis-spent. Just like aiken county getting ready to fleece taxpayers for a baseball field for a mlb park for the augusta green jackets A league baseball team. meanwhile our county roads suck big time....makes me sick...js
You are right. Once when I lived in York County(Fort MIll), I wanted to buy some rollout trash cans. I went to county rep building and told them and the price they quoted was $40 per can. Now this was back in the 80s. I went to WM and bought some for $10 per can. My point is that if a section of fed, state or local govt don't spend all our tax money they are allocated then they don't get as much the next year.
Not even close to true in South Carolina.
#1 - much of the population growth in SC is retired people. Retired people typically demand more services. Most aren't opening new places of business, or working full time jobs.
There are so many tax breaks built into the SC tax code - that your statement sounds good- but it's 100% false.
Listen, I worked in the state senate for several years. No one- and I mean no one will convince me that SC citizens are taxed at anything close to a reasonable rate. I've seen the back door deals up close and personal - and I mean- PERSONAL.
The General Assembly screws local governments and towns almost every single year in the state budget. They refuse to be reasonable with tax increases, and leave it up to towns and cities to make up the difference in things that the Assembly REQUIRES them to do.
South Carolina's tax code makes the federal government's tax code look rational and logical.
#1 - much of the population growth in SC is retired people. Retired people typically demand more services. Most aren't opening new places of business, or working full time jobs.
There are so many tax breaks built into the SC tax code - that your statement sounds good- but it's 100% false.
Listen, I worked in the state senate for several years. No one- and I mean no one will convince me that SC citizens are taxed at anything close to a reasonable rate. I've seen the back door deals up close and personal - and I mean- PERSONAL.
The General Assembly screws local governments and towns almost every single year in the state budget. They refuse to be reasonable with tax increases, and leave it up to towns and cities to make up the difference in things that the Assembly REQUIRES them to do.
South Carolina's tax code makes the federal government's tax code look rational and logical.
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That is not true. One easy example- cars are much more fuel efficient in 2015 than they were in 1987. Almost all automakers offer many more models that average 30+mpg than in 1987 (in 1987- over 30mpg was pretty rare- and typically only in 1-2 models).
Our population has grown - but it has not kept up with construction costs, compared to the relative cost of the gas tax.
Our population has grown - but it has not kept up with construction costs, compared to the relative cost of the gas tax.
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State and local tax burden per SC resident in 1987 was 9.8%.
In 2011, state and local tax burden in SC was 9.9%.
That's BEFORE tax loopholes, breaks, etc - of which there are MANY more in 2015 than they were in 1987 *(and there were plenty then). The actual effective tax rate in South Carolina is just under 3%.
Now add to that that a lot of the population growth in South Carolina is retirees - people that aren't working, that typically require - and demand - more services than other age brackets.
In 2011, state and local tax burden in SC was 9.9%.
That's BEFORE tax loopholes, breaks, etc - of which there are MANY more in 2015 than they were in 1987 *(and there were plenty then). The actual effective tax rate in South Carolina is just under 3%.
Now add to that that a lot of the population growth in South Carolina is retirees - people that aren't working, that typically require - and demand - more services than other age brackets.
Put a toll booth at the state line on Interstate 90, coming and going, and you'll catch every yankee
driving a car, bus or truck. All heading for Florida. I've lived in Fl. for the past 3 years, and we have
the best roads in the nation. And NO state income tax. Interstate Hwys. all across the country
have sections of tolls, why not S.C.!!!!!!
Hey now we like our dirt roads (or at least I did in high school when I didn't mind getting my truck sideways down a road).
Nope, not even close that is unless you like pickled BBQ or bland smoked meat that you add the sauce to later (all under the mask of "great meat shouldn't have to have anything on it" as if they've never even heard of at least a good dry rub before smoking it).
I have no idea where the money goes to for NC but I suppose they bring in a lot more money for the state through traffic tickets than SC does. In NC, you may have your "fine" reduced but you're still going to pay a mandatory $200ish court fee for every single ticket. I would imagine that money would greatly fund whatever projects it goes toward. I wouldn't mind seeing a mandatory court fee attached to tickets in SC as well. It wouldn't have to be $200 but at least something.
Spoken like a true Libertarian. So, we should just leave them as they are and let 'em return to dust?
I'm not surprised he's cynical about our govt. I sure am.
lol I know right? I live in the upstate and we talk about how bad our roads are and then I go down to Santee fishing and see all the dirt roads and i think What is going on here? It is 2015!!!! But the politicians aren't worried about your dirt roads
Disillusioned! Uninformed!
NEVER has the state of South Carolina EVER been mentioned in ANY serious article/publication referencing great BBQ. There are THREE areas consistently recognized for their outstanding Q: Texas, Memphis and eastern NC. Sorry, guy.
Side note: I am not from these three places nor the Palmetto State...but have lived in Memphis, NC and SC for extended periods of time -- I concur with the culinary scribes.
"Mustard?? We talkin' 'bout mustard??!!" ~ Allen Iverson
If you honestly think SC BBQ is only about mustard then you apparently didn't spend much time in SC or didn't frequent many BBQ joints. There are (at the very least) three main categories of bases in SC, a tomato/ketchup base, a mustard base and a Vinegar-Pepper base. All three of these have variations within them varying from sweet, spicy, tangy, etc or may be mixed such as a Vinegar-Pepper Tomato base which may also be sweet, spicy, or tangy or some combination. If you've only ever had mustard base BBQ in SC then you are highly unqualified to comment on anything about SC BBQ. As for SC never being mentioned in any major publication for BBQ, are you that oblivious??? Just a week or two ago Southern Living did a list of their top 50 southern BBQ joints and SC and NC both had 9 places listed which was tied for second behind Tennessee's 12. But let me guess, you don't consider that to be a major publication. Well off the top of my head, I know USA Today did an article on Sweatmen's in Holly Hill a couple of years ago and their are many other BBQ joints across SC who have had national publications highlight them as well, whether it be papers or magazines like Rolling Stone.
I stand with the BBQ experts on this one, Manning, and will continue to rank SC's Q on par with its roads.
This should be on Small Talk, Mr. Moderator, and I apologize for straying off topic.
Lol, that's fine, nice non attempt at a rebuttal. Just more great BBQ for us and the plenty of experts that enjoy it.
