Lexington County's penny sales tax causing rift among tax-lovers

Even its supporters are fighting
about Lexington's penny sales tax..

Warren Bolton is associate editor, and one of the two main columnists for The State newspaper.

He is sniping at Lexington County's penny sales tax because it could fund things he, and his media pals, don't deem deserving. His column is published in the July 6 copy of The State.

The tax, if passed in November, would go toward civic centers, parks, community centers and water-sewer projects, Bolton complains.

Bolton refers to a “Christmas list of extra projects” and says: “Quite frankly, officials should be embarrassed by some of the projects included on the list.”

Bolton said his fellow liberal columnist Cindi Ross Scoppe lashed out at the small towns bellying up to the trough. In her opinion, there should be no right for just anybody to incorporate as a “Town.” Bolton specifically identifies the Lexington County towns of: South Congaree and Pelion.

The po-dunks, in their opinion, are examples of those with the nerve to ask for funds they will contribute, be spent for their citizens.

How dare they take money in a way not approved by the media elites?

While there is much media attention directed toward squabbles among Conservatives, the media regularly ignores any rifts that may threaten unity among its own.

But this is a spat between two sides, both wanting to increase tax revenues.

Bolton writes: “Some voters — this is particularly true in conservative Lexington County — will see this as strictly a money grab and vote against it.”

Bolton expresses his true fear of failure of the tax after he agreed that promising everybody a little something is, “ not a bad tactic”....“If all you’re worried about is getting the tax passed.”

Kind of all over the road, there. Is Bolton's fear of losing the tax getting to him?

Eventually Bolton gives into his love for any and all tax. He says: “While (Lexington) county doesn’t have an urgent, emotional need such as a bus system on the brink of financial disaster (like Richland) Lexington’s tax is in some ways more palatable than Richland’s.

It's OK if you tax to fund projects Bolton approves of. And in the end, he cannot resist supporting Lexington's tax either. He dictates the money go toward roads, but if the only way you can raise taxes, is by including projects he sees as silly, he wants to raise taxes.

And Bolton signals that tax-supporters should be persistent. He says if the tax fails in 2014, he expects it to be brought back again and again, like Richland County. It passed a billion-dollar, 22-year penny tax. Even if it was in a very controversial and chaotic vote. The tax increase is now law, like it or not.

Bolton is hand-wringing, over Lexington County's tax increase, because he fears the Lexington County strategy of all-inclusive will doom the tax.

He is also has a fear of failure because all the funded projects are on the ballot. Bolton is scared pro-tax voters will get tired of waiting, and leave before casting their vote.

Basically, Bolton just wishes the pro-taxers in Lexington County would be honest with the voters, like he so brutally is. Say you want more money for government spending, without being specific.

And that is the spat in which Bolton is engaging with Lexington County tax-lovers.

What Bolton does not acknowledge, is that he does not have to answer to the voters.

And because we don't have elected leaders, who think like Bolton, we should be thankful.