Section 4-37-10 - Transportation authority; establishment; membership(A) Subject to requirements of this chapter and the referendum described in Section 4-37-30, the governing body of a county may by ordinance establish a transportation authority with all of the rights and powers described in Section 4-37-20. If, pursuant to this section, a county chooses to finance all of the cost of highways, roads, streets, bridges, and other transportation-related projects and elects to create an authority for that purpose, the members of the authority board must be appointed by the county governing body in the manner it determines.(B) If a county chooses to enter into a partnership, consortium, or other contractual arrangement with one or more other governmental entities and if the parties choose to form an authority for such purpose, those other governmental entities must have one or more designated appointees on the authority board as provided in an intergovernmental agreement to be entered into by the parties. In order for a county to enter into the formation of an authority, partnership, consortium, or other intergovernmental agreement pursuant to the provisions of this chapter with other counties, a referendum on the action must be held by each county and the referendum must be approved by each and every separate county and together.(C) For purposes of this chapter "governmental entity" is a county in South Carolina, or the State of South Carolina and its departments and agencies.(D) The existence of any authority created pursuant to this chapter must terminate not later than twelve months after a sales and use tax or toll authorized by this chapter terminates.1995 Act No. 52, Section 2, eff upon approval (became law without the Governor's signature May 18, 1995). 1995 Act No. 52, Section 1, provides as follows:
"SECTION 1. In furtherance of the powers granted to the counties of this State pursuant to the provisions of Section 4-9-30, and Section 6-21-10 et seq., of the 1976 Code, each of the counties of this State is authorized to establish transportation authorities and to finance, following the public hearing and referendum required in this act, the cost of acquiring, designing, constructing, equipping and operating highways, roads, streets, and bridges, and other transportation-related projects, either alone or in partnership with other governmental entities including, but not limited to, the South Carolina Department of Transportation."