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Little River, an unincorporated area of Horry County, is much more than the historic waterfront and the casino boats that dock there, attracting customers from a wide area.

The boats have been popular attractions for years 鈥� and they have been controversial at times, depending on one鈥檚 view about gambling.

Regardless of the various viewpoints related to the casino boats, it鈥檚 a fact that the head tax on passengers has generated $15.6 million for Horry County, which has an agreement dating to 2008. The casino boats are permitted to port in Little River 鈥� literally in the waterway (river) of the same name as the village 鈥� and pay a per-passenger surcharge.

Half of the $20 Big M Casino tickets goes to Horry County general revenue. Initially the county鈥檚 fee was $7 per passenger, later increased by $3.

Any area on the water 鈥� lake, ocean or river 鈥� has a natural draw to attract visitors to that area, and the government of the area should be involved in developing and enhancing the attraction. We don鈥檛 see that happening with Horry County and the Little River waterfront.

Little River residents, and particularly those in the historic waterfront area, may reasonably say, "Show us the money."

Visitors to the waterfront neighborhood 鈥� the 鈥渜uaint, historic fishing village鈥� 鈥� may feel they鈥檝e seen Little River; however, it鈥檚 much larger. Its geographic limits are not exactly defined because Little River is not incorporated. Horry County is the local government for Little River and other unincorporated areas such as Carolina Forest and Murrells Inlet. These are hardly tiny places in area or population, but they are not municipalities 鈥� cities or towns 鈥� such as Conway, Loris, Aynor, Atlantic Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach or Surfside Beach.

District 1 councilwoman Jenna Dukes and others maintain that the revenue from the passenger tax is fairly designated general revenue because of public safety concerns. That argument goes only so far, but the money has been declared general revenue so we鈥檒l let that be.

The two Big M Casino boats bring a lot of people to Little River, which has been the case since 2008, but they don't bring a lot of revenue to waterfront establishments.

The casino boat patrons primarily come for the five-hour cruises, which offer meal and food. Gambling is in international waters, out of the jurisdiction of South Carolina.

The waterfront is more crowded at times because of the casino boats, but economically they have benefited Little River. The casino companies have invested in infrastructure, including improved parking for casino boat customers. Additional economic benefits would follow infrastructure improvements.

Horry County had earmarked $8 million for the Little River Waterfront Park, including a boardwalk from the Mineola Avenue waterfront to Vereen Memorial Park. Then, prior to Dukes beginning her term on Horry County Council in January 2023, the money was reallocated to an equestrian center near Conway.

Dukes is 鈥溾�� working very hard to get that money back. I鈥檝e been working with the chamber and the business owners. 鈥� Everyone is working together very well to get a plan together to move forward to improve the area.鈥�

Little River, particularly the historic waterfront, deserves its fair share 鈥� a larger slice of the casino boat revenue pie. That could and should happen by restoring infrastructure improvement plans such as the boardwalk.