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Council sends amended transportation sales‑tax referendum to voters, deletes grocery tax and extends to nine years
Summary
Beaufort County Council voted unanimously to place an amended transportation sales‑tax referendum on the ballot after removing unprepared groceries from the tax base and extending the term to nine years to match revenue goals; staff warned the grocery exclusion shifts more cost to local taxpayers if not offset by a longer term.
Beaufort County Council voted unanimously to place a transportation sales‑tax referendum on the November ballot after amending the proposal to exclude unprepared food (groceries) and extend the program to nine years.
Administration and the county’s consultant described the draft proposal as an eight‑year, roughly $780 million program that — as originally drafted — included taxation of unprepared foods. The consultant noted that if the council excludes unprepared foods, one comparable option is to lengthen the term to nine years to achieve the same revenue target. The consultant explained that the statutory choice is available to each county and that the change primarily affects the share of the tax paid by tourists versus residents.
Council members debated incidence and political feasibility. Councilman Lawson moved the amendment to exempt unprepared foods and to extend the term to nine years; Councilman Cunningham voiced support for removing groceries, noting that taxing unprepared foods would hit residents and service workers harder. Council members raised the trade‑off: excluding groceries reduces the share paid by visitors and tourists but requires a longer term (or higher rate) to reach the program’s revenue goal.
Council also discussed bonding options. Staff said bonding for particular shovel‑ready projects (for example, major widenings and priority corridor work) can be structured so some projects can begin before the full tax is collected, but that bonding should be carefully limited and tied to specific projects and schedules.
After discussion, the council approved the amended referendum language (exclude unprepared food; nine‑year cap/whichever comes first with the $780 million target) and authorized staff to proceed with the ballot question and public education materials. Council members and staff said additional voter education and clear language about bonding will be prepared before the public hearing and the ballot mailing period.
The amendment passed amid broad cross‑chamber support. Councilors emphasized the need to show a clear project list, explain bonding choices, and clarify that the referendum asks whether the county should be permitted to levy the sales tax and (in a separate question) whether bonding is allowed within the program.
