LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — If you own a vehicle in Lexington County, you may be coughing up some extra cash starting in January.
Council members are considering a new annual fee.
In a public hearing council meeting Tuesday night, local leaders heard what residents thought about the potential $30 service charge on registered vehicles in Lexington County.
According to council, this uniform service charge would cover roads and associated storm-water maintenance, improvements and construction.
There were less voices for than against at the 5:30 meeting at the Lexington County Administration Building.
"This fee may seem small on paper, but it's impact will be large and unfair, especially for the most vulnerable members of our community," Brent Munnerlyn, one resident said.
Folks in attendance cited inflation, not enough transparency about how current funds are used, and a negative impact on business.
"We live in Lexington County. It is a rural county. How many people around here are farmers? Whether it's crops or chickens," Anthony Rogers, another resident said.
Some proposed alternative solutions, like requesting more money from the state or a sliding scale.
"If there could be a sliding scale where the heavier equipment for builders, who have big trucks, would be charged maybe $30 and those of us with lighter, smaller cars be charged like maybe $15," Liesha Huffstetler, Lexington County resident said.
The one person who spoke for the fee said growth is happening and the county needs to keep up.
"An intersection project today is going somewhere between $1.5 and $3M. For one intersection improvement and we know we have those needs here in Lexington County," said Brent Rewis, retired SCDOT deputy secretary of planning.
Council member Todd Cullum for District 9 said they have three options: The penny tax, which didn't pass, this fee, or nothing.
"We just didn't pull a number out of the air and say 30 sounds good or 10's not enough. So it was just amount of how much revenue could we generate to have a meaningful impact," Cullum said.
According to council, if approved, the fee would go into effect in January 2025. Lexington County council's next meeting is slated for Tuesday, November 12. Cullum said council might take a vote on the fee at that meeting, but he expects a vote sometime before the end of the year.
Lexington County said in addition to the people who spoke at this meeting in person, there were electronic comments received about the potential fee including two in favor and 122 against.