House approves shifting car sales tax to SCDOT | News

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The House has approved a bill shifting money collected from car sales taxes to road and bridge repair. Lawmakers voted 106-6 on Wednesday to eventually transfer more than $80 million yearly from the general fund to the Department of Transportation. It would be phased in over two years. The money comes from the state sales tax on vehicles, which is capped at $300. Another vote would send the measure to the Senate, where the idea has previously died. Critics say the bill comes nowhere close to funding road needs. Proposals to raise the gas tax by 10 cents and raise the $300 tax cap were easily defeated. The Transportation Department says it needs an additional $1.5 billion yearly over the next 20 years to bring roads into good condition. (Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)