House panel approves shifting car sales tax to DOT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The House budget-writing committee has advanced a bill shifting money collected from the state sales tax on cars to road and bridge repair.

The measure sent to the floor Tuesday would eventually transfer more than $80 million yearly from the general fund to the Department of Transportation. The transfer would be phased in over two years, meaning $41 million would go toward fixing roads in the coming year.

The money comes from the state sales tax on vehicles, which is capped at $300.

Orangeburg Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter voted against the idea, saying she wants money for infrastructure, but not by taking money from other needs.

The Transportation Department says it needs an additional $1.5 billion yearly over the next 20 years just to bring roads into good condition.