Lexington County Council appears to be headed for approving a $30 vehicle registration fee to pay for needed road improvements.

But there is a lot of opposition. Several people spoke against the proposed fee at a public hearing during the Oct. 22 council meeting. The proposal still has to go through two more readings for final approval.

The new fee, which would be imposed on some 30,000 vehicles, would raise approximately $8 million a year to fund road improvements in Lexington County’s deteriorating road system. The improvements are needed, according to a 2023 study that found 38% of the county’s roadways were in “fair or poor” condition, and that by the end of the decade, 70% of the roads would be in such condition unless action is taken ahead of time.

In an interview with the Chronicle, Lexington County Councilman Todd Cullum said he is “still digesting” the comments made at the public hearing, but is convinced that something has to be done to improve roads.

“The longer we wait, the worse it’s going to get,” he said.

Lexington County has tried to address the problem with a penny sales tax, but voters rejected it twice. The proposal failed in 2022 by a vote of 54.69 to 45.36.

At the public hearing, Lexington resident Brent Munnerlyn said it’s not a good time for a vehicle fee.

“We are still recovering from the economic impacts of COVID-19,” he said. “Inflation is squeezing family budgets."

He said the county should explore more equitable funding options.

Some citizens made the point that many Lexington County residents cannot afford to be saddled with additional expenses.

Brent Rewis, a former deputy secretary of planning for the state Department of Transportation, was the only person to speak in favor of the vehicle fee.

“I’ve seen the growth. Everybody’s seen the growth," he said. “It’s coming whether you want it to or not."

Cullum said the county has no other options to finance road improvements. The county currently spends 70% of its current budget on personnel costs for police, fire and EMS. He said those expenditures can’t be compromised.

He said the $30 fee is something residents should be able to handle since it would be on an annual basis.

“It’s a fee, not a tax,” he said.

The fee doesn’t have unanimous support from council members. Council members Glen Conwell, Charli Wessinger and Scott Whetstone voted against the initial proposal.

But as complaints about road conditions continue, council members are under pressure to take action.