JOHNSONVILLE, S.C. (WBTW)-If you shop in Johnsonville, you’ll see a new penny sales on your items come this summer. City council passed the tax increase that will be charged on food and beverages within the city limits. City officials say they’ll use the money to make improvements around the area.

 “It might help us to build Johnsonville up,” said Elouise Gillerd, a Johnsonville resident.
Elouise Gillerd has lived in Johnsonville all of her life and her hope is to see Johnsonville become a better place.
“Maybe it will be climb and more people will come in from out of town.”
That is the goal of the new sales tax and city officials say the extra money will make it possible.
 “3.5 million dollars is being spent on prepared foods in the city of Johnsonville so our portion of that in taxes would be approximately $35,000,” said Johnsonville mayor, Steve Dukes.
Johnsonville mayor Steve Dukes says the money will be used for a number of things but all of it will focus on bringing more people to their small town.
“There’s going to be a lot of people coming by Johnsonville to get to the coast, to get to Myrtle Beach so we’d like for you to stop in here just like the old settlers used to do. “
Some of the money will be used on advertisements to bring beach-goers to their restaurants but a good portion of it will aim to make the downtown more appealing.
“Just to attract people to look at this building and think you know this building really has some potential, maybe I could open up a little shop here and that would bring more business to town and more interest in the downtown.”
Other improvements this sales tax could cover would be to fix parks. City officials want to put in more sheltered areas for the enjoyment of senior citizens and children as well as put in a new stage here which would hopefully bring more music to the park and in return attract more tourism.
“If we have good recreational facilities we could advertise or we could bring people in just to use the facilities, there’s things like Christmas lights, maybe even having a Christmas festival there.”
And Gillerd says she’s looking forward to the park improvements as well.
“I like to go out there and sit down and talk to the old people.”
Dukes says Johnsonville has been off the map for too long and he’s excited to change that .
“It’s a well kept secret and we need to get that secret out.”  
The tax will not be implemented until July.