30 countywide projects proposed for Penny for Progress initiative

The Penny for Progress initiative will appear on ballots this November. If it gets approval from a majority of voters in November, the Capital Penny Sales Tax would see a charge of 1% of the sales tax imposed that will fund capital projects, and the tax would apply to most items, except non-prepared food items (groceries), prescription drugs and medical supplies.

Below is the proposed list of what the money from the Penny Tax would go toward if approved by a majority of voters in November:

1. $13,000,000 toward emergency radios and pagers

2. $14,000,000 toward county fire trucks

3. $5,000,000 toward city fire trucks

4. $1,500,000 toward an EMS station on Stadium Road. This would be a "new 4,000 sq. ft. satellite facility to include a two-bay truck port," according to public documents.

5. $1,000,000 toward four new EMS ambulances

6. $2,000,000 toward industrial infrastructure. It's to "construct a 'Pad Ready' industrial site approximately 200,000 sq. ft. with options to expand for industrial recruitment," according to public documents.

7. $1,750,000 toward intersection safety improvements

8. $2,500,000 toward Bobby Richardson Park Improvements. It's to "transform the park into a state-of-the-art Baseball Complex to include a practice facility, increased parking capacity, and two new entrances for better accessibility," according to public documents.

9. $2,800,000 toward 15 new Patriot Park pickleball courts and added parking

10. $2,750,000 toward downtown building improvements and acquisitions, including Liberty Center upgrades

11. $21,000,000 toward county paving and resurfacing

12. $3,000,000 toward rebuilding the Stadium Road Fire Station

13. $1,000,000 toward a fire department training facility

14. $6,000,000 toward federal state road construction on U.S. 378. It's to reconnect "the communities and services north and south of the US-378 Bypass at Wesmark and Miller Roads to improve safety for drivers and pedestrians and enhance mobility for all travelers," according to public documents.

15. $10,000,000 toward a state road resurfacing match. "This project will be used to draw down additional funds from the State Department of Transportation to prioritize and expedite critical state road projects in Sumter County," according to public documents.

16. $3,250,000 toward improving the public services buildings

17. $1,500,000 toward industrial property acquisition

18. $2,600,000 toward Dillon Park improvements

19. $4,000,000 toward community park playground improvements. It would "[e]nhance public parks with infrastructure that adds safety and security, as well as modern playground equipment accessible for all children to include Swan Lake, Birnie Center, Crosswell, Catchall-Shaw, Shiloh, Rafting Creek, and others," according to public documents.

20. $1,000,000 toward a Central Carolina Technical College facility upgrade to the health center building

21. $1,500,000 toward Mayesville Main Street revitalization

22. $1,200,000 toward Pinewood Road paving

23. $9,500,000 toward a Dugan Street and downtown parking facility

24. $1,250,000 toward a Delaine Community Center. It would construct "a new community center for seniors and youth with approximately 4,000 sq. ft. to replace the current center located near the old Delaine School," according to public documents.

25. $3,000,000 toward the South Sumter Gym

26. $1,500,000 toward Harvin Street redesign and streetscape

27. $300,000 toward Pinewood sidewalks

28. $3,500,000 toward community sidewalks and activity paths

29. $1,000,000 toward airport facility upgrade

30. $2,500,000 toward community-wide acquisition of distressed structures