Some S.C. lawmakers are entertaining the idea of a statewide sales tax to further fund state roads.

But other members of the General Assembly say all options are on the table, from increasing the state’s gas tax to transferring state secondary roads to local government control.

At a legislative briefing with the media Thursday, Rep. Gary Simrill proposed a one-cent sales tax hike, which he said would generate $643 million a year.

Simrill said the tax, which is presently in the discussion stages only, could appear as a state referendum question as early as 2016.

He also hopes to lower the state gas tax by six to eight cents while removing the exemption on wholesale fuel.

Both measures, he said, would be permanent. “The reliance of fuel tax only to pay for roads is a diminishing return,” Simrill said. “We are flat lining in terms of our ability to collect on fuel taxes.”

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