The chairman of the Lexington County Election Commission has resigned because of the chaos the penny sales tax referendum could create.
The tax could generate $300 million in eight years, but council is refusing to pay for the election it called to pass the tax, said Eugene Wilbur.
But council, in a controversial move months ago, paid a Columbia firm, Allied Consulting Engineers, $450,000 to promote the tax.
Wilbur said Lexington County Council will not make sure the election commission has the resources needed to make sure the November election runs smoothly. He said more staff and space is needed before resigning after almost five years as chairman.
The county's November ballot will contain the details and estimated costs for every one of the 93 projects the tax is supposed to fund.
Willber told council, voters may face long lines on election day because of the penny-sales-tax referendum, council has put on the ballot.
He said the council has ignored advisement from election officials regarding impending problems.
Wilbur said council is clueless about the magnitude of an election, especially one with 160,000 voters in it, and such complex instructions the tax referendum will cause.
Wilbur referenced the debacle connected to the Richland County $1 billion penny tax vote in 2012. That chaos-filled vote caused a personnel shake-up at the Richland County Elections Commission. And many voters are still not confident that the results were legitimate.
Wilbur said he has been told by council members, he is overreacting, and all will go well on election day.
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