Supporters of mass transit are making a final push to make sure you know about a referendum on the Horry County ballot next Tuesday.
It will ask voters whether the county should dedicate up to six tenths of a mill to the area's only public transit system. The referendum is a non-binding vote. It is only meant to advise the Horry County Council about the wishes of the public.
Advocates have pushed their campaign called 'Let's Roll' for the past 16 weeks to area groups and governments through a presentation.
It compares the Grand Strand to other vacation destinations like Charleston, which has less than half the number of visitors than Myrtle beach but gets $8 million dollars in local funding.
Coast Regional Transit Authority received $650,000 in local funding this year. If council members decided to give Coast RTA the whole six-tenths of a mill by increasing taxes, Coast could receive $1,000,080.
It would cost homeowners $2.40 per $100,000 appraised value of their homes - per year.
Coast Regional Transit Authority General Manager Myers Rollins wants voters to understand the importance of the funding before heading to the polls. "My final comment to voters who may be on the fence, when you have to make a decision, consider your neighbor who may use it even though you don't. Consider that senior citizen who needs to get to a medical appointment. Consider that worker who needs to get to work to clean a room or restaurant which is an engine that drives our economy."
The number of people riding Coast RTA has increased 30% since last year.
