SCDOT Chair Says Haley's Refusal to Raise Gas Tax 'Not What's Best'

The Chairman of the SCDOT Commission, Eddie R. Adams. issued this statement in response to Gov. Haley's State of the State Address, in particular the section where she confirmed her lack of interest in raising the gas tax to improve the state's roadways.

"Governor Haley's remarks addressing raising the South Carolina Fuel User Fee represents the fact that politics is about elections and not what's best for South Carollina. Tell the people what they want to hear! South Carolina remains with the third lowest fuel user fee in the US. The SCDOT has the responsibility in maintaining more miles than 46 other states. As Chairman of the SCDOT Commission and owner of a Petroleum Wholesale and Retail business, even I, without bias, understand that our substandard highway system is at a critical point. Governor Haley states, 'Why would we raise the gas tax to improve infrastructure when all the gas tax we currently collect goes to improving our infrastructure? Millions of dollars each year are being diverted away from our bridges and highways.

The diverted money the Governor refers to are by some of her own agencies, DHEC and DNR. In fact, fifty percent of the current revenues of the SCDOT goes to just maintaining only a small part of our outdated system. 

At the current time, SCDOT estimates that in oder to bring the current outdated system up to a good status, it would take more than an additional $1billion dollars per year to meet the highway transportation needs over the next 20 years. Without transportation infrastructure, there will be no Economic Development.

Governor Haley and the Legislature have an opportunity to invest in the Economic Future of South Carolina. It is time for our elected officials to make hard decisions that will make South Carolina a place that our children will want to call home!

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