MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the final forum of the RIDE 4 referendum on Tuesday and Horry County voters were given the opportunity to ask questions.

“I think folks educating themselves on the full list of projects is a really good way for folks to understand what the Ride 4 program is,” said MBACC Chief Advocacy Officer Jimmy Gray.

Horry County residents have been paying this tax for RIDE 1 through 3 for over 25 years. If they approve RIDE 4, they will continue to pay taxes until 2050.

Reviewers from the South Carolina Coastal Conservation Association RIDE 4 also attended the final forum.

Deputy Director Trapper Fowler says it’s a “no” because he has issues with some of the long list of projects linked to the referendum.

“Unfortunately, the way they structured this list of projects, yes, we should vote them all down,” Fowler said.

Myrtle Beach resident John Ward says he has seen intense growth in the city and county over the past four years and understands the need for funding to maintain roads.

“I’m very familiar with the growth that’s happening, and that means ongoing maintenance of roads and infrastructure, and we need that money for that,” Ward said.

If a 51 percent “yes” vote is not received in the referendum on November 5, it is possible that it will be on the ballot in the 2026 general elections. In such a case, Gray says, property taxes could increase to cover residential property taxes. Cost of some projects.

“What local government can do is wait a few years and vote again, or raise our property taxes and make you and me and hundreds of Horry County residents pay for it,” Gray said.

Click for a closer look at RIDE 4 Here.

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