Winner: Crumbling roads

South Carolina’s interstate system is more than 50 years old.

South Carolina’s 16.75 cent-a-gallon gas tax – much lower than Georgia and North Carolina’s – has not increased in 27 years.

While finding some new money for roads every now and then, the state has failed to come up with a long-term solution to its crumbling roads, filled with cracks and pot holes.

South Carolina has the 4th largest state-maintained highway system in the country with less than 30 percent of traffic riding on good pavement.

Bills to increase the gas tax or other taxes to pay for roads failed this year, and Gov. Nikki Haley, R-Lexington, has said she will veto any tax increase.

Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, formed a special panel chaired by state Rep. Gary Simrill, R-York, to reform the Transportation Department and find a solution to the $43 billion (that’s “billion” with a “b”) deficit the Transportation Department says it has through 2040 to repair and expand the roads.

Simrill has suggested giving some roads and money to maintain them to counties. But county officials oppose that idea, noting the Legislature has not fulfilled other promises to local governments in recent years.

Senators also have pre-filed legislation to deal with the roads.