By Aidan Hylen and Students of the M.A.R.S.H.
“We owe it to ourselves, and future generations, to make this place more livable for all.”
When voters go to the polls on November 3rd, they’ll be voting on more than just which candidates will represent the Charleston community. Voters must also decide via a referendum whether they want to extend the current Transportation Sales Tax program for another 25 years. At stake is over $4 billion in county funding for flood control, improved public transit, and protecting undeveloped land. If approved, the program will continue to improve the quality of life for current residents and future generations in Charleston County by reducing traffic, mitigating flooding, and curbing development.
The Transportation Sales Tax Program was initially approved in 2004, and has already been renewed once by voters in 2016. In a little over 20 years, it has raised more than $4.56 billion dollars to pave 895 miles of roadways, 49 miles of bike and pedestrian paths, and preserve over 28,000 acres of land through the Greenbelt Program. And as the population of Charleston County continues to grow, traffic and new development remain pressing issues. This is why it is important now more than ever to extend the life of the TST program.
While traffic and infrastructure improvements are reactive solutions, perhaps the most powerful tool to proactively curb development is the Greenbelt program. While widening roads and improving public transit has reduced traffic congestion, the Greenbelt program protects large swaths of land from being built upon in the first place. Greenbelt funding has benefitted both urban and rural voters by creating spaces where the community can come together to enjoy nature. Magnolia Park in downtown Charleston, Pinckney Park on James Island, and the Sullivan’s Island Nature Trail are just a few examples of the many green spaces that this program has conserved. These spaces also act as natural floodplains, which can protect homes and businesses during heavy rainfall by absorbing water. Under the proposed TST extension, 16% of funds raised (totalling nearly $700 million) will go to protecting more land and improving public access to green spaces.
The most useful part of all of this? Voters won’t actually see an increase in taxes, since the referendum is simply an extension of the current program that has been in place for more than 20 years. What’s more, a significant portion of this sales tax (over 50%) comes from tourists and other visitors from outside Charleston County. The County will also look for matching investments from state, federal, and private sources to make the funds from the TST go farther. In total, the TST is projected to generate another $4.25 billion to continue improvements around the county.
As students living in Charleston, we believe it is critical that voters say YES to referendum questions 1 and 2 when they go to the polls, to assure Charleston is protected for the future. The projects funded by the Transportation Sales Tax program will help improve the quality of life for all who live in Charleston County, from cutting down commute times to ensuring that everyone has access to outdoor spaces and activities. We owe it to ourselves, and future generations, to make this place more livable for all.
Aidan Hylen is a student at the College of Charleston, majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Political Science. He is also President of the CofC club, Students of the Marsh.
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