S.C. mayors: Hike gas tax to pay for road, bridge repairs

The damage and destruction caused by the recent flooding in the Midlands and along the coast is devastating. Our hearts and prayers – and those of all South Carolinians – go out to the families of those who have lost their lives, their homes and their livelihoods. In the midst of this time of trial, we have seen the greatness of South Carolina’s citizens shine through – neighbors helping neighbors and folks from across the state stepping up to meet needs great and small.

The effects of this storm are of epic magnitude and will be long felt. We do not yet know the full extent of the damage, but an untold number of roads and bridges are damaged or impassable. Our state faces a daunting challenge in rebuilding infrastructure from Columbia to Charleston – and points in between. However, before the rain even started falling, our transportation infrastructure statewide was already in dire need of repair.

Before the storm, the S.C. Department of Transportation estimated it needed $70.4 billion through 2040 to maintain and expand the state’s transportation system, but it will have only $27.6 billion in revenues to meet that need. That is an almost $43 billion shortfall in funds needed for highway, bridge and transit systems over the next 25 years – a deficit of roughly $1.5 billion a year. The amount now needed for post-flood infrastructure recovery has yet to be calculated, but we can expect that figure, too, will be in the billions.

Recovery in the most damaged areas needs to take place, and it needs to take place quickly. However, we should not allow necessary recovery work to cause resources to be diverted from desperately needed road repairs all across our state. Now is the right time for our General Assembly to increase the gas tax, thereby creating a recurring funding source for the future – not one-time funding that is merely a stop-gap measure. We believe the people of South Carolina understand the need for this fee to fund roads and bridges, and want our infrastructure to be the highest quality possible.

The gas tax in this state has not been increased since 1987, and our crumbling infrastructure shows it. Good quality roads and bridges are vital for a state to flourish. Cities and towns, the economic engines of our state, rely on infrastructure to attract businesses and jobs. Businesses and industry count on quality roads to get their products to market and attract new clients. Schools and our children need safe roads for transportation to and from school.

We don’t seek to define the exact formula for increasing the gas tax, but rather implore our state legislators to take action. Research shows that when revenues are dedicated toward improving roads and bridges, voters support increasing taxes. Some parts of our state have had great success with dedicated use sales tax for road infrastructure improvements. We urge our state legislators to consider the success of these programs during their deliberations.

The pre-existing transportation infrastructure crisis in South Carolina has only been magnified and multiplied by the devastating floods in the Midlands and Lowcountry. Just as neighbors are already helping each other recover, we, as South Carolinians, ought to take responsibility and help pull ourselves out of the infrastructure mess we are in – and the General Assembly should lead the way early in the next legislative session.

We call on the General Assembly to fully fund infrastructure improvements across the state – to do what is necessary to make our roads and bridges safe and ready for growth and prosperity for decades to come in every corner of South Carolina.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 7:05 AM with the headline "S.C. mayors: Hike gas tax to pay for road, bridge repairs."