Second phase of gas tax hike arrived yesterday

A second year of an additional two cents to the tax on a gallon of gasoline at the pump arrived yesterday, with the start of a new government year in South Carolina. And that’s the reason South Carolina motorists may have noticed pump prices higher by two cents. What’s commonly called the Roads Bill took effect last summer, kicking off a two-cent increase on the state gas tax for a period of six years. This is year two and, according to a spokesman for the Department of Transportation in Columbia, there is satisfaction to be derived that the state was able to get a good start on the huge task of repaving roads in the last 12 months. And last week the DOT Commission approved for year two a total of $417 million to be applied to 600 miles of roads covering all 46 counties. The DOT’s Pete Poore says that amount supplements other DOT funds for road paving. Asked about public reaction, Poore said, “Most people who we’ve had contact with, or received comment from, or members of the legislature, have had no qualms about the gas tax as long as it goes into asphalt and concrete, and that’s exactly where it’s going.”