SUMTER, S.C. — On November 5th, voters in Sumter approved a 1 percent capital projects sales tax, commonly know as a penny tax. Right now, 30 projects are currently on the agenda to be funding by the revenue the tax will generate.
But with a long list of items that will be funded by the tax, some are wondering where the $125 million will go.
Some posted in public Facebook groups in Sumter County that they'd heard the money was going to build new airport hangars and they didn't understand why. News19 checked with the county, who confirmed that was one of the projects the county had said months ago the penny tax would be used for.
Joe Perry, a spokesman for Sumter County, told News19 there are a total of 30 projects on the list.
Perry said the largest amount is $64 million, which will go towards infrastructure. Over $38 million will fund seven public safety projects. $16 million will be used for quality-of-life improvements, and $6 million for a push in economic development with three projects, including the one million dollars to improve the Sumter airport terminal and allow construction of 4 new hangars.
Jeff Knauer, airport manager for Sumter County Airport, said the improvements needed and helpful for economic development.
“We have a great story to tell right now. There is a lot of good economic activity that is generated by the airport and through the airport, and that’s what we want to keep going," Knauer said.
Knauer said the airport is 90 percent business aviation and 10 percent recreational which all brings more economic development to the county.
“This money will provide the money necessary to put pavement on the ground so that aircrafts can taxi and access those hangars that will also allow us the put the appropriate lighting and signage and all that kind of stuff so that we have the opportunity to attract more hangars to the airport," Knauer added.
He said the expansion is necessary to attract more attention to the area with the hopes to host more businesses already using their four current hangars.
“We would love to see four more," Knauer said. "That’s our hope to attract four private hangars out here with the ability to get 15 or 20 more aircrafts based at the Sumter airport."
It’s important to note this not the first time the tax has been approved, Voters said yes 10 years ago to the penny tax and approved it a second time. Over that time, the money raised allowed over 160 projects were funded throughout the county.
For more information on what the tax is you can read about it here.
Projects under the third capital sales tax will get underway next spring.