Pain at the pump or poor road conditions: Which hurts worse in York, Lancaster, Chester?
If two of the biggest concerns for area drivers met head on, which would hurt more?
The State newspaper reports there’s a legislative push to suspend the South Carolina gas tax to help with rising gas prices. The 26 cents per gallon tax, which will increase to 28 cents this summer, brings in more than $900 million a year according to the Herald’s sister newspaper.
Yet money from the gas tax pays for state road projects. The same report notes a gas tax suspension could lead to significant revenue loss that could delay road and bridge repair.
York, Lancaster and Chester counties both charge the statewide tax and have long lists of roads and bridges up for state repairs. In December the state listed almost 20 tri-county bridges on a repair or replace list from gas tax revenue.
In January, a new but similar list had almost 30 tri-county bridges. Road and bridge lists like it have been common since the state decided to increase its gas tax incrementally to fund road fixes, starting in 2017.
High growth areas of York and Lancaster counties in particular have struggled to widen or build new roads to keep pace with demand. The Pennies for Progress sales tax in York County is one of several efforts to expand the area road network. Yet Pennies is a sales tax, not a statewide one specific to gas sales.
Should the state suspend the gas tax even if it delays or disrupts road construction and other work? Or should the gas tax remain and drivers continue to pay more at the pump, and in doing so fund road upgrades?
Let us know in the box below. Also, email your experiences in York, Lancaster and Chester counties related to higher gas prices or road construction needs to jmarks@heraldonline.com. Let us know how either or both issues impact your life.
