I live in the city of Florence on a state street and own two vehicles, along with other people, families and small businesses who own multiple vehicles, who pay a $30 dollar Road Maintenance Fee on each vehicle — even though I can drive only one vehicle at a time. This fee is not used for any maintenance on my street or any street in the city of Florence; therefore, I am being double taxed for a fee that does not benefit me.
People who live in the municipalities of Florence, Quinby, Lake City, Olanta, Pamplico, Johnsonville, Scranton, Coward and Timmonsville need to know that no matter how many times they pay the $30 Road Maintenance Fee, the county is not responsible for maintenance, of any kind, on their roads. People who live on state roads in the county need to know that no matter how often they pay the $30 Road Maintenance Fee, the county is not responsible for any maintenance on their roads.
It is my understanding that the money collected from this fee totals in the millions and is used primarily for maintenance of dirt roads. I can’t remember the last time I drove down a dirt road, yet I, and the majority of the population, are charged millions for the upkeep of these roads.
Recently a petition was presented to the Florence County Council to lower the $30 fee. So, what action has Florence County Council taken? It’s spending taxpayers’ money to take the petition to court. In a newspaper article, Councilman Schofield said, “County Council is listening and that is why we are asking the court to decide.” Frankly, I think we elected nine councilmen to decide. If 11,000 people (16 percent of the registered voters) signed a petition, the nine councilmen should have gumption enough to discuss the issue at an open council meeting and make a decision for the people they were elected to serve.
Margaret Grimsby
Florence
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