Council adopts housing-element amendment to allow use of hospitality tax revenue for workforce housing, schedules public hearing for addendum

Georgetown County Council gave second-reading approval on March 24 to amend the county’s comprehensive-plan housing element to include a housing-impact analysis required by South Carolina law, allowing up to 15% of local hospitality (ATAX) tax revenue to be used for affordable and workforce housing through Dec. 31, 2030.

Holly Richardson, planning staff, said the analysis was prepared by Catalyst Community Consulting and Together Consulting and will be included as an addendum to the housing element rather than replacing it. Richardson noted the provision stems from Act 57 at the state level and requires adoption of a housing-impact analysis prior to disbursement of the funds. The planning commission reviewed the analysis and recommended approval by a 7–0 vote.

Richardson and councilors discussed next steps: if second reading is approved, staff must provide the adopted analysis to the Department of Revenue, the county’s state legislative delegation, and the tourism-expenditure-revenue committee before funds can be allocated as part of the next fiscal-year budget. Richardson said a public hearing on the comprehensive-plan amendment will be held at the next meeting, and council will need to take that procedural step before final adoption of the element addendum.

Why it matters: The change creates a local mechanism—subject to state rules and a sunset date—to direct a portion of hospitality-tax revenue toward housing initiatives that staff and consultants say can support workforce housing projects and partnerships. The amendment does not itself allocate funds; it creates the required procedural framework for future disbursements.