Allendale County Residents Want Vehicle Fee Dropped

Allendale County Residents Want Vehicle Fee Dropped (Added: January 27, 2012)

Residents in Allendale County went before the Allendale County Commission Thursday night asking the board to drop a $61 fee that is added to vehicle registration. WJBF News Channel 6's Kait Rayner was (more)

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Allendale County Residents Want Vehicle Fee Dropped

Credit: Kait Rayner

By: Kait Rayner | WJBF News Channel 6
Published: January 27, 2012

Allendale, SC --

Residents in Allendale County say they want Allendale County Council members to drop a $61 fee, added to vehicle registration. They say the fee is unfair.

"Now, it's going on the fifth year, and they have made over $2 million and they're not using it for the purpose they said they would use it for," said Allendale resident, Audrey Lofton.

More than 1,300 residents signed a petition against the fee. Some residents even pleaded with Council to repeal the fee because they say they can't afford it.

"Allendale is the only place in America that don't have nothing in it, and it seems like nobody's fighting for us," said one concerned resident.

Council Chairman, Carl Gooding, says Council will consider it, but the money from the fee is used to maintain county roads, and he says they need it.

"This money is being used for that, we're not stealing your money," said Gooding. "If we didn't have this fee money, we would have to take it out of your regular general budget, and some other department in the county is going to do the suffering."

Allendale County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state of South Carolina. Council members say that half-way through this fiscal year, Allendale County is over budget.

Gooding asked the residents for their thoughts on a solution. "We are already running on the skin of our teeth," he said. "All I want to know is if you've thought of a way we could possibly raise money?"

"Well were going to have to have the court determine whether or not you're in compliance with the intent of the court," said William Holmes, the resident group's spokesperson.

The group says, if Council doesn't decide to get rid of the fee, they will legal action against the Council.