Greenville County voters rejected a one‑cent local option sales tax on Nov. 3, a measure that would have raised roughly $1.1 billion over eight years for roads, infrastructure, green space and other projects, a decision that directly affects residents’ daily commutes and community improvements.
According to the Greenville Journal, 51.5% of voters cast a “no” vote. The same proposal was turned down by a similar margin in the 2024 election, indicating persistent voter skepticism.
County Council Chairman Benton Blount, who represents District 19, said the defeat stemmed from a lack of public understanding of how far behind the county is on road maintenance and lingering distrust that county government can deliver on its promises. “We have to do a better job of informing the public,” Blount said. “When I came onto council my goal was to reestablish that trust, and I knew that wasn’t going to be something that happened overnight.”
Blount added that many rural voters in southern and northern Greenville County mistakenly believe the county could simply move money around to catch up on road repairs. “I think there’s a misunderstanding that (the county) can just move some stuff around and get things caught up,” he explained. “It’s way more complicated than that.”
Four cities within the county—Greenville, Mauldin, Simpsonville and Travelers Rest—approved a one‑cent local option sales tax to address their own roads and infrastructure needs. This was the first election in South Carolina in which cities could place such a question on the ballot, a change that came about partly because Greenville County was unable to pass the tax. The city of Greenville lobbied heavily for the new law.
With the county‑wide referendum rejected, officials will have to work with existing funding. The county expects to allocate somewhere between $30 million and $40 million a year to a maintenance backlog estimated at $3 billion.
Blount noted that, given voters’ repeated rejections of a sales tax for additional road funding, the County Council could consider moving some of the resources earmarked for road work into other areas that also need investment, such as public safety. “I think there are some unintended consequences to come out of (the referendum), but at the end of the day I think it was the best thing to put it before voters and let them decide,” he said.
What’s next: Greenville County will continue to address the $3 billion backlog using the $30‑$40 million annual allocation while exploring future funding options. Any new tax proposals will need voter approval in upcoming elections.
Sources: greenvillejournal.com
