Road-building industry funding group pushing half-cent sales tax increase
A new group poised to begin promoting Charleston County’s $2.1 billion half-cent sales tax referendum is being financed largely by road-building interests.
Jim Rozier, former Berkeley County supervisor and former chairman of the S.C. Department of Transportation Commission, is leading the nonprofit group called Complete the Penny, which was formed in April to help get the plan on the Nov. 8 ballot, and promote it if that happens.
He said the group is largely being funded by people and companies connected to the road-building industry, including engineering and paving companies, but didn’t specify which companies or how much money the group has raised.
Charleston County Council on Tuesday will take an initial vote on whether to move forward with the referendum that would let voters approve or reject raising the sales tax to pay for roads, public transportation and green space. If it passes, council would have to vote two more times before giving it final approval. Meetings when such votes could take place are tentatively scheduled Thursday and July 28.
Read more: http://www.postandcourier.com/20160718/160719435/road-building-industry-funding-group-pushing-half-cent-sales-tax-increase-