Tax increase would help replace burned courthouse

LANCASTER, S.C. -- Election Day is about one month away, and voters in Lancaster County will be asked to vote "yes" or "no" on a sales tax increase. The taxpayer money would buy a new courthouse after an arsonist torched the historic courthouse this summer.

"Once the fire occurred, the decision was made for us," said Lancaster County Council Vice Chairman Fred Thomas. He explains that when flames ripped through the roof of the old courthouse in August, it put the plans county council was already making on the fast track.

"What we're afraid of is that the Supreme Court Justice is going to tell us we'll be using facilities in another county. We'll have to pay for the use of their facilities," Thomas said.

So voters will see a bond referendum in November for a one-cent sales tax increase over seven years to build a new courthouse.

"Absolutely I'm for it becasue we've needed a courthouse," Lancaster business owner Nancy Howell said.

Lancaster native Wayne Clyburn said, "Even if it sounds like a small amount, over a period of time could add up to serious money, so I don't think I'll be voting for that one."

But Thomas added, "We need to sell to everyone that if you vote no for the penny, we're still building a courthouse, it's just gonna be paid for by property taxes."

The County Council has earmarked the land right next the old courthouse as where the new courthouse will probably be built.

"The most the courthouse is gonna cost is $37 million," Thomas said. "But what we did was we guessed very high with the courthouse because we didn't want to come back with a NASCAR type price tag that Charlotte had."

If it passes, voters want to know when it will be built.

"We're thinking sometime in early 2010 perhaps," Thomas said.