H.3516 would increase the gas tax by ten cents (a yearly two-cent increase over the next five years). It would also increase vehicle registration fees from $24 to $40 and add a new infrastructure maintenance fee for first-time vehicle registrations in South Carolina. The bill would also add a biennial road use fee for electric and hybrid vehicles.
The problem with South Carolina roads is structural rather than monetary, as existing infrastructure revenue is spent unwisely and the system is unaccountable to taxpayers. These issues should be addressed before a tax hike is even considered.