UPDATE: NEW 120 MILLION “Penny Tax” Coming Up!

July 21, 2026 – UPDATE

The Penny Tax will after tonight officially be on the November ballot. County Council held its 3rd reading on the proposal, passing it with an 8-3 final vote. Councilmen Collins, Long, and Shaw voted against the Penny Tax proposal. A HUGE thank you to these three council member for holding strong to their campaign promises.

Councilman Curt McGahhey withdrew his proposed 20% property tax relief proposal. While pitched as a way to ease property tax burdens for citizens and win municipal support, it turns out the measure wasn’t actually legal. What else has he missed? Now the decision rests entirely in the hands of the voters this November. Given the lack of transparency, failure to address other wasteful spending, broken campaign promises and continued reliance on failed counsel that got us in this mess in the first place, WE know our position on the “McPenny Tax”. JOIN US!!! www.NoPennyTax.com

July 15, 2026 – UPDATE

On Monday, July 13th, the Executive Committee of the Greenville County Republican Party (GCRP) unanimously passed the first reading of a formal Resolution of Censure against Greenville County Councilman Curt McGahhey.

The resolution responds directly to Councilman McGahhey’s proposal to include a 17% sales tax increase on the Greenville County ballot. The GCRP estimates the measure would impose an additional annual tax burden of more than $114 million on county residents.

“With strong GCRP backing, Councilman McGahhey campaigned as a fiscal conservative defeating an incumbent who supported tax hikes,” the party’s Chairman, Jeff Davis, stated. “Less than halfway through his first term, he has now proposed the same – if not worse – tax
increase. Republican voters are outraged and feel betrayed.”

The GCRP remains committed to sound fiscal management, low taxes, and holding elected officials accountable to the Republican platform. While tax increases may occasionally be necessary as a last resort, the government must first exhaust every effort to eliminate waste and inefficiency before shifting the burden to taxpayers.

For full Press Release with the Censure click HERE

April 28, 2026 – UPDATE

This … AGAIN?  Greenville County Councilman Curt McGahhey, District 21, (HERE), who was elected in November 2024 on a platform opposing the 2024 “Penny” Tax and to replace long term County Administrator Joe Kernell (who in January 2026 Councilman McGahhey voted to extend Mr. Kernell’s contract for an additional 18 months – until July 2027) … has now proposed a NEW “Penny” Tax for roads.

This “Penny” Tax would raise $120 MILLION from Greenville Citizens … but in exchange Councilman McGahhey proposes we eliminate the $25 / vehicle tax (totaling $14 million in each year).  So taxpayers are saddled with an additional $120 MILLION in taxes in exchange for a $14 million cut.

We believe in REFORM first, cleaning the “Waste, Fraud & Abuse” out of our current nearly $500 MILLION County Budget, then we can talk about additional tax revenue.  There is no discussion of cutting the fat, just adding more taxes.

Citizens “replaced” former Greenville County County Councilman Chris Harrison in the June 2024 Republican Primary with Mr. McGahhey BECAUSE Councilman Harrison had simply raised our taxes.  It now appears Mr. McGahhey is doing the same thing.

The Greenvillle County Republican could not be more disappointed in this proposed tax and will unite with Greenville Citizens to once again FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT this newly proposed Curt McGahhey “Penny” Tax.

NOTE … it is NEVER just a “Penny”.

Watch below Charlie James’ interview with Greenville County Councilman Curt McGahhey on his proposal of a new $120 MILLION “Penny tax”