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Horry County is considering diverting most of its hospitality tax revenue to one political project for years to come: the unneeded and costly I-73. At a special meeting tomorrow, Horry County Council will introduce a resolution to use 72 percent of the county’s hospitality fee revenue ($30 million ANNUALLY) for the construction of a brand-new interstate. Projects of this magnitude are typically financed for 20 to 25 years.
Here are things that the tax could help pay for (but won’t if the money is squandered for I-73):
- Operation and maintenance of police, fire protection, emergency medical services and emergency preparedness operations
- Beach access and nourishment
- Highways, roads, streets and bridges
- Water and sewer infrastructure
- Drainage projects
- Tourism-related buildings like civic centers, coliseums and aquariums
- Tourism-related cultural, recreational or historic facilities
- Advertisements and promotions
Spending this money on I-73 would mean that local roads, public safety and other needs would all take a backseat to the project—even though I-73 has no other source of funding, and it would take years to break ground.
Just two months ago, a Myrtle Beach sewer line broke, and DHEC issued a long-term swim advisory warning. Shouldn’t this be where hospitality fee revenue is spent?
Tell them to reject Resolution R-82-18: https://p2a.co/k1CWtAO
Please help us spread the word before the meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, July 24) at 2 p.m. at the county’s Council Chambers, located at 1301 Second Avenue in Conway.
Thanks for your help to protect our coast!
-Lisa
