Opponents Use their Time to Correct Falsehoods
The Greenville County Election Commission held a public hearing on the proposed sales tax increase referendum. Only Bob Knight, the advocate’s lead spokesman, was in the back of the room but did not speak on behalf of the tax increase.
At least two dozen opponents were present and 10 speakers were allowed three minutes each to express their views. Each side was allowed 30 minutes. Valerie Wade from Greer was first to speak.
“We have been mislead by the advocates of this sales tax increase,” she said. “Some of us received a mailing saying that food and medicine are exempt from the increase in sales tax. Now County Council has admitted this to be false.
“If we can’t trust those pushing for this tax increase to campaign honestly, how can we trust them with the $673 million of our money?”
Don Rogers added, “It has been said that the reason we need this tax so desperately is because there is simply not enough money to fix our roads. That is simply not true. The question is not what the county should do but what the state should do.”
“The County Council has admitted they were wrong on taxing groceries,” said Jan Williams. “They should pull this tax referendum back. But I don’t think they have the guts for that. They are building a new road beside Woodruff Road. Hello! That is not repairing roads. Bike lanes cost $8,000 per mile. Bikes do not pay road taxes.
“We don’t need to have a county tax to repair state roads. The state should fix their own roads.”
Seth Powell listed the three falsehoods stated by advocates of the sales tax.
Bang Hall said she is working three jobs and don’t need to pay more taxes. She escaped from Communist Vietnam and doesn’t like to see this country moving toward Communism and taking advantage of people.
Butch Taylor discussed three tax increases he had had a part in blocking.
Patricia Taylor said she is 77 years old and not able to work and earn money to pay more taxes. “They already told three lies. They should cancel this thing,” she stressed.
Tony Gilliard took issue with advocates talking about a one percent increase. “It is a 17 percent increase” he said. He explained that roads and bridges are a function of government, but bike trails and such are not.
Bikers are advocates for this tax because they want more bike trails paid for by taxpayers for them to ride on.
The local bike club has form letters designed to get the votes of different groups. To business interests the letter says the tax will help attract corporate investment.
To average citizens, the entire “$670 million to improve our roads and making life easier and safer for us all... Let’s not leave the safety of our families in the hands of the state. It’s time for Greenville County to do what’s right for Greenville County.”
They did not forget to do something “for the children.”
“This initiative would provide about $47 million dollars for sidewalks and bike lanes around Greenville County Schools.”
Didn’t the other letter say all the money was going to fix roads?
The Executive Director of the bike club spoke the truth to his members.
“There are 100 Bike Walk Projects included...”
Who came up with the project list being funded by the taxes?
“In order to get our advocacy started, we partnered with Upstate Forever and Live Well Greenville to help the county to prepare the State Routes to Schools, work, and Recreation Plan that was ready by the time that the Roads Commission was formed. This plan had an extensive list of pedestrian and bicycle projects that were ultimately adopted by the commission.”
