SCDOT on the verge of bankruptcy. (Charleston, Greenville: sales, schools, income)

[g-man430]

Scary stuff: DOT could be broke in weeks | The Post and Courier, Charleston SC - News, Sports, Entertainment

[Carolina Knight]

Is one to believe the DOT is broke, or has its funds been used inappropriately on unnecessary things (i.e. East North Street in Greenville)?

[Columbiadata]

Is this when Obama laughs in Nikki's face?

[Ceezer]

Obama has been laughing at all of you for the last 3 years. I don't know why he'd stop when he got to her door.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

Is one to believe the DOT is broke, or has its funds been used inappropriately on unnecessary things (i.e. East North Street in Greenville)?

The East North Street road diet was a collaboration between SCDOT and the City of Greenville. Resurfacing 2.5 miles of road is a minuscule drop in the bucket compared to massive projects like the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, the I-385 rehab project in Laurens County, the Billy Alford Bridge in Horry County, and the developing I-73 project—to name a few.

http://www.fitsnews.com/2011/05/25/r...rrupt-as-ever/

[PawleysDude]

Originally Posted by Ceezer

Obama has been laughing at all of you for the last 3 years. I don't know why he'd stop when he got to her door.

Considering Haley is the second biggest joke in SC, just behind Ard and his PlayStation3, she has us all laughing when we're not crying. I think it's interesting that when Federal funds are offered to SC for schools, it's an evil liberal conspiracy, but when we can't pay our bills, we're out begging for a handout. Ms. Nikki has made it clear she thinks Federal money is the root of all evil. IMO, it's time for Washington to stop answering the door everytime we come crawling back like an unrepentant prodigal child, looking for more.

The DOT situation should not come as a surprise. All it takes for a politician to get elected in SC is to spout out "no more taxes!". Low taxes are great as long as you don't expect any services such as road maintenance.

[The Cid]

Have been involved with transporation in SC for many years. Lots of reasons for problems in SC. Gov. is not qualified and she picked an Executive Director for DOT who has only two qualifications-lives in her county and retired Army major general. Neither of these qualifies someone to run a private or government organization the size of SCDOT or with its mission. Incidentally, he is almost never heard from on this issue and why didn't he see it coming?
Might add, I am a retired Army officer and it is an entirely different environment-mission, financing, politics, personnel, etc.
Real solution is simple. Raise the gasoline tax, currently lowest in nation. Eliminate the $300 sales tax cap on vehicle sales and replace with 3% tax using income for roads and bridges. Sales tax on a $10 million jet or boat is $300. Eliminate the "C" Funds program which is a slush fund for politicians and local elected officials. Appoint a professional transporation engineer to head the department.

[ss20ts]

Originally Posted by The Cid

\Raise the gasoline tax, currently lowest in nation. Eliminate the $300 sales tax cap on vehicle sales and replace with 3% tax using income for roads and bridges.

That's not going to happen. Someone in the legislature attempted that with the last budget and it went nowhere. Someone tries every few years and nothing happens to it. Those folks need to be re-elected and who wants to be the one raising taxes?

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

The East North Street road diet was a collaboration between SCDOT and the City of Greenville. Resurfacing 2.5 miles of road is a minuscule drop in the bucket compared to massive projects like the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, the I-385 rehab project in Laurens County, the Billy Alford Bridge in Horry County, and the developing I-73 project—to name a few.

“Reformed” SCDOT Still Corrupt As Ever :: :: FITSNewsFITSNews

That "collaboration" was a waste of funds that could have been spent improving other areas of downtown, and recently was determined a failure because the cyclist count is too low. This is why giving a road diet on Stone Avenue is now next to impossible. Also, there is plans by the Overbrook community to revert the road back to four lanes.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by The Cid

Raise the gasoline tax, currently lowest in nation.

Montana and Wyoming have lower gasoline taxes than South Carolina.

Raising the gasoline tax will be shot down quickly. Gas prices are already high. Any idea to increase them more would result in some elected representatives being voted out of office.