Penny sales tax for roads passes by wide margin in Spartanburg County

By a wide margin, Spartanburg County voters on Tuesday approved a penny sales tax referendum that is expected to raise $478 million to address an estimated $500 million backlog of road repairs.

With 99% of the precincts reporting, there were 18,973 yes votes, or 55.5%, and 15,225 no votes, or 44.5%.

Six years ago in 2017, voters approved a penny sales tax by a vote of 16,901 to 10,159, or a margin of margin of 62% to 38%, for a new courthouse, city police administration building, emergency operations center, and a new joint city-county government complex that will soon be built.

OneSpartanburg, Inc. campaigned hard for a yes vote to fix Spartanburg County's roads.

"The people of Spartanburg County tonight chose better roads, safer roads and they chose yes with the facts in mind," said Allen Smith, president and CEO of OneSpartanburg, Inc. "I also think it's important to point out there were a lot of people on other side very passionate about their viewpoints. We have a lot in common — we love Spartanburg and call Spartanburg home, and that's what really matters."

A penny tax opponent who posted no-vote signs at the Anderson Mill Elementary polling place early Tuesday morning was Larry Bateman.

Bateman said he was disappointed in the outcome, but hopes County Council is held accountable in how the funds are spent.

"It's all about transparency. and let the citizens participate in what they want," Bateman said. "It's about showing what you've done with the money over the past 15 to 20 years and how the roads are looking and riding. You've got millions of dollars in the coffers and the roads are in the same messy, unsafe shape for our children, grandchildren and our schools."

Manning Lynch, chairman of Spartanburg County Council, said he was pleased with the outcome — and that voters approved the penny tax, not council members.

"I'm relieved," he said of the outcome. "It's a fair tax that expires. It's a painless way to get serious about our roads."

With 111 of 112 precincts reporting, voter turnout Tuesday was 15.58% with 34,666 ballots cast. There were no statewide or national races on the ballot.

Spartanburg penny tax for roads to take effect April 1

The penny sales tax was/is expected to take effect April 1, 2024, when the current six-year penny tax for the new courthouse and other projects expires.

Spartanburg County Council on Aug. 8 approved a referendum to ask voters to continue a six-year, 1-cent sales to fix 577 roads, bridges and intersections. A list of projects to be funded can be found here.

The total sales tax will remain 7 cents through 2030, taking effect next April when the current six-year penny tax for the new courthouse and other projects expires.

OneSpartanburg, Inc., has endorsed and promoted passage of the penny tax for roads and publicized a website called Vote Yes Spartanburg.

Smith has said the alternative to a penny sales tax is a property tax increase, which would be less popular with county residents.

Clemson University tourism researcher Bob Brookover said $478 million in revenue over six years from a penny tax would generate a local economic impact of more than $573 million.

Further, he said more than one-third of the revenues — $163 million to $168 million — would be paid for by out-of-county visitors, he said.

"One of the numbers that can't be quantified is the number of lives that will be saved," Smith said.

At a Spartanburg County GOP executive committee meeting Sept. 21, nearly a third of the representatives from the county's 112 precincts voted to oppose the referendum.

Voters share why they voted for penny tax

A small sampling of Spartanburg County voters Tuesday indicated support for the penny sales tax referendum.

"I voted yes," one woman said after voting at Bethlehem Baptist polling place. "It looks like we have enough potholes."

At Anderson Mill Elementary, voter Sabah Al Shaikhly said he voted yes "to improve the roads — they need it. They need to be resurfaced."

A woman who was on her way to vote at Anderson Mill Elementary said she planned to vote yes.

"I think it's worth the penny for our roads," she said. "This is a fair way."

A man at the same precinct said he planned to vote yes as well, saying he likes that more than a third of the revenues from the penny tax will come from out-of-county spenders.

At Mt. Moriah Baptist, voter Jay Coffman said a penny is a small price to pay for improved roads.

"I'm not going to miss paying that penny," Coffman said.

At C.C. Woodson Recreation, voter Ida Allen said she couldn't wait to vote yes.

"Bumpy roads are a mess," she said. "If they need more money, I've got a jar full of pennies at home."

Spartanburg voters re-elect Councilwoman Ruth Littlejohn

Also Tuesday, District 3 voters in the City of Spartanburg re-elected City Councilwoman Ruth Littlejohn. With 60% of the vote reporting, Littlejohn had 353 votes, or 69.5% of the vote, while Brian Cohen had 78 votes, or 15.35%. Mike Fowler had 75 votes, or 14.76%.

Littlejohn, a retired realtor, won a special election in 2018 to replace Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, who was elected to the S.C. State House District 31 seat. Littlejohn was re-elected in 2019 and has served in the City Council seat for five years.

For City Council District 1, incumbent Meghan Smith faced no opposition, and for City Council District 2, incumbent Rob Rain was also unopposed.

In the race for Commissioner of Public Works, City of Spartanburg, Fowler also filed to run against incumbent John D. Montgomery. With 50% of the precincts reporting, Montgomery had 1,562 votes, or 53.9%, and Fowler had 1,295 votes, or 44.69%.

Countywide, voters also decided the outcome of 29 school board seats to be filled and 42 candidates running in Spartanburg County's seven school districts.

Also decided Tuesday, were several municipal elections.

Poll workers: Voter turnout steady throughout the day

Meanwhile, poll workers at several precincts in Spartanburg said turnout through mid-afternoon Tuesday was surprisingly higher than expected, due primarily to the penny sales tax referendum.

"It's been pretty steady," said Mt. Moriah Baptist poll clerk Deborah Smith. "It's been pretty good for (an off-year) election."

Through 4 p.m., 247 voters had cast ballots in person at Mt. Moriah.

At C.C. Woodson Recreation Center, 128 votes had been cast by 4 p.m.

At Poplar Springs Fire Station, 274 voters cast ballots as of 3 p.m.

"It's been very good," one poll worker said.

At Anderson Mill Elementary, the clerk said 156 had cast ballots shortly before 3 p.m.

She said there was a line of voters at the entrance when the doors opened at 7 a.m.

"It's been a trickle, but steady," she said "I'm hoping we make a strong finish."

At Bethlehem Baptist, 169 votes were cast as of 2:30 p.m.

"It's pretty good," one poll worker said. "We were surprised."

Bob Montgomery covers Spartanburg County politics and growth & development. Reach him via email at bob.montgomery@shj.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg County voters cite poor roads in voting for penny sales tax