Lexington County wants taxpayers to approve a penny tax to repair roads and ease congestion.

County officials say they need money for roads since they receive only about $4.1 million a year from the state gas tax increase. About $1 million of it has to be used on state roads in the county.

If passed, the penny tax would produce more than $40 million a year, Council member Darrell Hudson of Lexington said.

Limiting the tax to 8 years is being considered.

The county maintains 638 miles of paved roads and 618 miles of dirt roads

The council will create an advisory committee to review projects for approval.

A plan would go to the voters November 2022.

A previous $268.1 million penny tax plan containing walking and biking trails, splash pads, sports fields, civic centers, parks and other non-road related projects was defeated by 70% of the voters in 2014.

In 2016, the council axed plans for another public vote after state Department of Revenue allegations about Richland County abuse and misuse of penny transportation taxes.

Last year, an independent commission was asked to draft a plan but the covid-19 pandemic halted it.

Council Chairman Todd Cullum said the council wants nothing but trafficrelated improvements.

Those include turning lanes, storm water drainage for roads and resurfacing or straightening sharp curves for safety in areas with a high number of accidents.