The RIDE IV Sales Tax Commission held its inaugural meeting on Thursday, August 24, 2023. The commission is composed of six members, three of whom are representatives from Horry County's three largest municipalities: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway. The remaining three members were appointed by Horry County Council.
The commission is responsible for determining which road improvement and expansion projects will be funded by the RIDE IV Program. The RIDE IV Program is a proposed seven-year, one-cent sales tax that would generate an estimated $800 million to fund transportation projects in Horry County.
Over the coming months, the commission will review and prioritize a list of potential projects. The projects will be evaluated based on a variety of factors, including need, cost, and impact on traffic congestion.
It is important to note that the commission will not be starting from scratch. The previous 18-member RIDE IV Sales Tax Advisory Committee has already laid the groundwork by creating a list of potential projects, which encompasses everything from paving dirt roads to environmental mitigation for new roadways. The commission will now review this list and make its own recommendations to Horry County Council.
The RIDE IV Sales Tax Commission is an important step in the process of improving transportation in Horry County. Their recommendations will help to ensure that the RIDE IV Program is used to fund the most important projects for the community.
Members of the RIDE IV Sales Tax Commission:
- Cecil Patrick – Appointed by the City of Myrtle Beach
- James “Jay” Baldwin – Appointed by the City of North Myrtle Beach
- William Goldfinch IV – Appointed by the City of Conway
- Jody Prince – Appointed by Horry County Council
- Chad Prosser – Appointed by Horry County Council
- Robert Wilfong, Jr. – Appointed by Horry County Council
