MyrtleBeachSC News reviewed the S.C. House budget numbers today. While we were working on getting an article up on I-73 funding, we were called and informed that the Myrtle Beach Sun News had beat our team to the story. Kudos to the Myrtle Beach Sun News team.
The Sun News beat us to this story today: Gov. Henry McMaster wants lawmakers to spend $300 million this year to start building Interstate 73, from I-95 to Myrtle Beach.
SCDOT DIRECTOR Kristy Hall said it’s up to the General Assembly to specifically spend money for that project. House budget writers did not include money for I-73 in the $13 billion proposed spending plan set for debate this month.
EMBARRASSING BLOW TO RICE AND MCMASTER
MyrtleBeachSC News informed S.C. Governor Henry McMaster by text that Horry County residents and the S.C. General Assembly were equally opposed to this $300 million funding when he held a press conference with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce last Fall.
We also informed the governor that this press conference could be embarrassing for him personally.
EMBARRASSMENT FOR MBACC AND CITY OF MYRTLE BEACH
The entire City Council and the Myrtle Beach Mayor wined and dined House Committee members in February.
The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber held several high brow functions in Columbia, escorted by the local delegation. Heather Ammons Crawford, Russell Fry, Case Brittain, Tim McGinnis, Senator Luke Rankin, Senator Greg Hembree, Senator Stephen Goldfinch, Chamber lobbyist Jimmy Gray, and MBACC C.E.O. Karen Riordan equally did a full court press on this funding.
WHAT IS NEXT?
Horry County needs a comprehensive roads package plan upgrading farm to market roads that include: Highway 90, Highway 905, congested roads along Highway 17 in Little River, an extension of Highway 9 running four lanes to the county line, and a South East Evacuation life line for Pawleys Island and Surfside Beach residents.
Look for a comprehensive RIDE IV penny sales tax plan to be placed on a general election ballot with I-73 being a key component of this plan.