The Richland County penny tax has been a key source of funding for construction + infrastructure projects throughout the county, but grossly underestimated construction costs may put a pause on several proposals or limit the total number of funded projects.
Current estimates to complete all the slated projects are $132 million over the original estimates, estimated by the Program Development Team (a.k.a. PDT, a three-company board that manages the improvement projects) + signed off on by Richland County’s director of transportation.
🚧 widening of Bluff Rd. = $10 million over budget
🚧 widening of Atlas Rd. = $17 million over budget
🚧 expansion of Pineview + Shop Rd. = $24 million over budget
The penny tax can only collect up to $737 million, so the PDT says the council will need to do some prioritizing + restructuring in light of these adjusted estimates.
Some Richland County Council members are concerned that funds will run out and planned projects will be thrown out. Other members hope potential underestimates will balance rising costs – like the asphalt resurfacing project that has only spent $19.5 million of an $85 million budget.
