MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW)- Senator Greg Hembree is proposing a bill that would allow voters to decide if they want a one penny sales tax on gas to go towards beach renourishment.
Senator Hembree said the beach is South Carolina’s most valuable public asset, and said that extra penny at the pump will help maintain it properly.
The proposed bill will allow counties to vote on a one penny or up to a penny sales tax on a gallon of gas, and all of that money will go towards beach renourishment
“Most of those gas taxes are going to be generated by tourist, so you’re getting the tourist to pay for the asset that they’re using. That being the beach,” said Senator Hembree.
The Army Corps of Engineers just finished a beach renourishment project across the Grand Strand with a 26.3 million dollar price tag.
Senator hembree said currently, the federal government pays 65 percent of that and either the city or county where the beach is located, or the state pays the remaining 35 percent.
“The state gives us some money sometimes, the local government gives us money sometimes, the federal government gives us money sometimes, but it’s hit and miss. It’s hard to make this consistent plan when you have inconsistent revenue stream,” said Hembree.
Senator Hembree said all those extra pennies will add up and help create a consistent beach renourishment plan.
“It would give us a permanent predictable revenue stream where we could do an ongoing beach renourishment plan that we maintain year in and year out. I use the analogy it’s like painting the Eiffel Tower, you start at the bottom, get to the top, and start all over again and you do the same thing with the beach,” said Hembree.
The senator still wants to use federal funds and said if all coastal counties pass this and get together they could get the work cheaper with more bang for your buck.
“Enter into an intergovernmental agreement where they would just hire a crew and purchase a barge because the moving of the equipment is some of the most expensive part of the project,” said Hembree.
The legislative session begins January 8th.
