Anderson County launches a new Fraud Alert Service, REAACT—Real Property Fraud Activity Alert System. Residents are encouraged to subscribe to stay informed and protect themselves against financial and identity theft. Available for free. 
Link Here
The Capital Projects Sales Tax (CPST) is a percent sales tax. The CPST Commission and Anderson County Council both agreed that the CPST can only be used for transportation projects (paving, bridges, and safety). In general, a CPST could be used for roads, bridges, public facilities, recreation facilities, and water and sewer projects. However, because of the wording in the resolution that the CPST Commission has approved, the CPST in Anderson County can only be used for transportation projects. This resolution formed the ballot that will be on the November 4, 2025 election. Additionally, the capital projects sales tax does not apply to groceries, prescriptions, or gasoline purchases.
Overall, the condition of Anderson County’s 1553 miles of roads score 64.7/100, a failing score. The longer a road goes without being fixed and repaved, the more it costs to fix the road. Of the County’s 160 bridges, four are currently closed because the bridges cannot carry even passenger vehicles. Fifty-two are open but weight restricted meaning larger vehicles cannot use the bridges. In 2020, all roads inside the county had the highest pedestrian fatality rate among all counties in South Carolina.
According to Anderson County estimates, a Capital Projects Sales Tax in Anderson County would generate approximately $352 million over eight years. Economists estimate that people living outside of the county will generate 35% of the tax collected.
Yes, of the forty-six counties twenty-two in South Carolina have active Capital Projects Sales Tax programs. All but three have some form of local option sales tax.
Capital Projects Sales Tax revenues are collected at points of sale and then sent to the SC Department of Revenue. The SC Department of Revenue keeps track of these dollars and disburses them quarterly to a local capital projects program or Anderson County, in this case. A local program manager is only permitted to spend these funds on the purposes listed on the ballot question. Any deviation from the voter-approved list of purposes is a violation of state law. Programs are also subject to regular reporting and auditing requirements.
Anderson County produced a list of requested projects based on pavement condition, road classification, accident experience, and bridge condition. The municipalities within the county submitted lists based on similar criteria.
An appointed Capital Projects Sales Tax Commission was charged with receiving project proposals. Following several meetings in June and after the Public Participation Session on June 23, 2025, the Capital Projects Sales Tax Commission compiled proposed projects and used input from local governments and the public to make their final determination on the project list. The Commission used the list to create a ballot question and submitted it in a final resolution to County Council for consideration.
County Council has passed first and second readings for an ordinance to hold a referendum and send the question to the Election Commission no later than August 15. County Council adopted the ordinance ordering the referendum on August 5th after a public meeting and public hearing. The voters of Anderson County will vote on the question November 4, 2025. If the voters approve the ballot question, a capital projects sales tax would be collected starting in May 2026 and ending in April 2034.
In Anderson County there are approximately 1337 miles of South Carolina Department of Transportation roads. These roads are maintained and improved with Federal gas tax and State gas tax. There are 1553 miles of County roads and approximately 196 miles of municipal roads. The only gas tax money that goes to these roads comes through the Anderson County Transportation Committee (ACTC), whose members are appointed by Anderson County State Senators and members of the State House of Representatives. No funding for these locally maintained roads is guaranteed annually, but in recent years, the ACTC has received about $5,000,000 per year. Out of this amount, only $3,000,000 is permitted to be used on county or municipal roads. At about $1,000,000 per mile to pave the worst roads, the County can only pave a few miles per year.
County roads are maintained by the Roads & Bridges department. Maintenance includes maintaining bridges, patching pavement, installing and maintaining signs and pavement markings, reviewing and approving new subdivision roads, and keeping vegetation and stormwater controlled on County rights of way. The Roads & Bridges budget can be found on page 164 of the County’s budget https://www.andersoncountysc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Anderson-County-Budget-FY25-online-version.pdf. Increasing the Roads & Bridges budget to fund repaving would require a property tax increase or a Road Maintenance Fee added to vehicle taxes. These types of property tax increases and fees do not allow revenue to be obtained from visitors and tourists who regularly use County roads.
You can send inquiries and comments to Gaye Sprague at ggsprague@andersoncountysc.org or (864)260-4190.
6/16/2025 at 5:30 PM – First Meeting of the Commission
6/23/2025 at 5:30 PM – Second Meeting of the Commission
6/23/2025 at 6:30 PM – Public Participation Session
**Staff will be available for discussion. Official comments can be submitted in person via comment card or emailed to Gaye Sprague at ggsprague@andersoncountysc.org**
6/30/2025 at 5:30 PM – Third Meeting of the Commission at 1428 Pearman Dairy Rd, Anderson
7/3/2025 – Ballot to County Council
7/15/2025 at 6:30 PM – First Reading by County Council
7/24/2025 at 12 PM – Special Called County Council Meeting for Second Reading
8/5/2025 at 6:30 PM – Third Reading by County Council and Public Hearing
8/15/2025 – Deadline for ballot to Election Commission
The Commission’s role is to form the ballot question regarding a one percent sales tax for road improvements and the projects to be funded by the tax.
Deputy County Administrator
Roads & Bridges Manager
Roads & Bridges
Roads & Bridges Project Manager
6.16.2025 Agenda