Council debate intensifies over Capital Projects Sales Tax; residents press for rural road funding

A prolonged exchange at the March 22 Sumter County Council meeting focused on how much the county should press the Capital Projects Sales Tax Commission (CPSTC) to dedicate to rural road resurfacing.

Councilman Carlton B. Washington urged the county to ask the CPSTC to dedicate at least $26,000,000 for rural road resurfacing and paving, proposing that the commission add $13,000,000 left unspent from the first CPST cycle to $13,000,000 in the upcoming cycle. Washington framed roads as the county's number‑one service priority for rural districts and noted the Commission will narrow requests submitted (he described the process as paring roughly $200,000,000 of requests down to about $85,000,000 before a ballot question).

Other council members cautioned about tradeoffs. Councilman Eugene R. Baten and others pointed to projects funded in previous CPST cycles — recreation, sidewalks and Patriot Park among them — and said broad support from municipalities and residents countywide will be needed to pass any referendum. Baten and Artie Baker emphasized that investments such as sports and recreation facilities and sidewalks had helped attract industry and tourism and that funds intended for such projects were part of prior CPST allocations.

Chairman James T. McCain said the county attorney would report back at the April 12 meeting on whether the CPSTC may hear direct public comment. Councilman Washington asked that the following two items be placed on a future Council calendar: (1) request that the CPSTC hear from the public and (2) a letter from Council asking the CPSTC to dedicate at least $26,000,000 for rural road resurfacing and paving. He said he would hold the item if staff could provide a resolution or if a negotiated outcome could be reached before the next meeting.

Public commenters strongly backed Washington’s push. Residents from Rembert, Dalzell, Horatio, Wedgefield, Pinewood, Mayesville and other rural areas described poor road conditions that impede school buses, ambulances and everyday travel. Hosa Macu thanked Councilwoman McGhaney for visiting his area and urged the county to fix roads “so that the kids and adults do not have to put plastic bags on their feet to walk on the roads to get to the buses and other places they are trying to go.”

Council did not adopt a binding change to the CPST project list during the meeting; members instead debated priorities and scheduled legal clarification and possible future action. The matter will return to the Council calendar and staff will provide the attorney's opinion on April 12, 2022.