Turning Pennies Into Roads

That is exactly what Spartanburg leaders want to do: impose a penny sales tax that pays for 575 local roads.

Two down, 575 to go.

Allen Smith explains how the tax works

That’s the update from Spartanburg County leaders on road improvement projects supported by the penny sales tax voters approved in 2023.

“The momentum we’re seeing is truly incredible,” said Manning Lynch, who serves as chairman of the Spartanburg County Council. “Progress is being made on every project we have planned, whether that’s construction, design or right-of-way acquisition.”

Lynch was joined by other local leaders on Thursday morning to celebrate the completion of the first two road improvements that are part of a nearly $480 million, multiyear spending package created by the penny tax.

They gathered at Spartanburg Community College’s Spark Center SC campus on Highway 290 – one of the recently paved roadways. The stretch of Daniel Morgan Avenue behind the county courthouse was also resurfaced.

OneSpartanburg president Allen Smith noted that the two projects were begun after the new sales tax took effect last spring and reached completion slightly ahead of schedule. It’s an example, he said, of “penny promises made, penny promises kept.”

OneSpartanburg promoted the penny sales tax, which won support from about 55 percent of voters.

Lynch said county council members also endorsed the tax. He noted that unified support by elected leaders may have been a key difference between Spartanburg County and Anderson and Greenville counties, where similar measures have recently failed.

Lynch described the penny sales tax as “relatively pain-free” – more palatable than a property tax increase.

And Smith pointed out that non-residents pay sales tax when they visit the county and make purchases. “Visitors use our roads, and they should help pay for our roads,” he said.

Upcoming road projects include improvement of the intersection at Zion Hill Road and Sloans Grove Road, resurfacing of West Main Street and Reidville Road, and numerous stormwater improvement projects.

In all, 577 road and intersection improvements throughout the county will take place with funding from the six-year tax.