If you knew you could get $147 back if you spent $100, would you do it?

County Councilman Darrell Hudson thinks the county should. And he has research to support it.

Hudson wants to raise the county’s ceiling on local preference from $10,000 to $33,000 per purchase.

That would give auto dealers and other suppliers preference in bidding for contracts and equipment.

Research by the USC Moore Business School found that an economic multiplier effect across all industries in Lexington County is 1.47.

“This means that on average for every $100 in new spending that occurs within Lexington County, a total of $147 in economic activity is generated,” said Dr. Joseph Von Nessen.

“For every $100 spent with businesses outside of the county, a total of $147 in economic activity for the county is lost.”

Dr. Von Nessen said some spillover can occur if local spending is done with businesses in adjacent counties.

“For every $100 in new spending that occurs in Richland County, a total of $15 in economic activity on average is likely to be generated in neighboring Lexington County.”