Coastal Chambers Alliance Urges Governor to Address Infrastructure Funding Shortfall
January 20, 2015
CHARLESTON, SC – The Coastal Chambers Alliance urges South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and the South Carolina House and Senate to address South Carolina’s infrastructure funding issue in the 2015 session of the General Assembly.
Our state currently faces a $42 billion infrastructure shortfall ($1.5 billion a year) with nearly one third of our state’s primary and interstate highways in poor or mediocre condition and one out of every five bridges is considered load deficient.
“Our Alliance met in early December and agreed that funding our state’s infrastructure is the most critical issue facing our coast and our state,” said Brad Dean, Myrtle Beach Chamber President and CEO.
More than 20 million people visit the South Carolina coast each year, generating an estimated $300 million in annual state tax revenues. Additionally, the coastal region is the fastest growing area of the state, with more than one million permanent residents. Adequate funding of roads and infrastructure is vital to the continued economic prosperity of the state, to ensure the safety and well-being of the millions of people who visit the state each year and to alleviate congestion on over-crowded highways and interstates.
The poor road conditions create severe safety hazards. According to Teresa Hatchell, Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, “While traveling to towns and cities in our chamber’s vast coverage area, I see first-hand the dangerous potholes and cracks that cause people to lose control of their vehicles. The citizens of our state and our tourists deserve safe road conditions.”
“The current system is placing our coast and our state at a competitive disadvantage for both economic development and tourism,” said Bryan Derreberry, Charleston Metro Chamber President and CEO. “Each of our chambers is asked constantly what our state is doing to address infrastructure needs. We are asking our state elected leaders to find a solution.”
South Carolina’s motor fuel user fee is currently the fourth lowest in the nation at 16 cents per gallon and has not been increased since 1987. However, North Carolina and Georgia, our primary competitors from both an economic development and tourism development standpoint, fund their highways at a much higher level. North Carolina’s motor fuel user fee is 38.9 cents per gallon, while in Georgia the combination of the state’s motor fuel user fees and the state’s use tax is the equivalent of 28.6 cents per gallon.
“The Alliance is asking the Governor and the legislature for a dedicated revenue source and comprehensive funding solution to help solve the estimated $42 billion funding gap,” said Bill Miles, Hilton Head Island/Bluffton Chamber President and CEO. “This has become an economic development issue that we must address now.”
About the Coastal Chambers Alliance
The mission of the Coastal Chambers Alliance is to advance economic development and quality of life of Coastal South Carolina through addressing issues of common concern. Members include: Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, Hilton Head Island/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce and Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
