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Beaufort County Council trims transportation sales tax to 10 years, $950 million and remands ordinance for further readings
Summary
The council reduced a proposed 15-year, $1.625 billion transportation sales tax proposal to a 10-year, $950 million referendum, removed a previously proposed Buckwalter Parkway extension from Bluffton’s allocation, adjusted municipal project lists and ordered an additional reading before returning the measure to voters.
Chairman Passamette told the council that the sales-tax ordinance would be amended to change the length and total from the original 15 years and $1,625,000,000 to 10 years and $950,000,000, and council members voted to approve those changes as part of the ordinance’s second reading process.
Why it matters: The revised package narrows the collection period and reduces the maximum bonding authority, shifting the scope and pace of the countywide transportation program and the potential tax burden. Council members framed the change as a response to public concerns about duration and total cost and as a means to finish previously authorized projects.
What the council did: At the meeting, Councilman Cunningham moved — and the council seconded — an amendment to shorten the referendum to 10 years and lower the total to $950 million. Council also voted to include the projects recommended at the committee special meeting and to exclude the Buckwalter Parkway “5B” extension from Bluffton’s $30 million allocation. The chair stated these substantive modifications require the ordinance to be remanded for an additional reading; under council rules the revised text becomes the second reading and will return for a third reading with a public hearing before final approval.
Council rationale and debate: Proponents said the change responded to community concerns about a 15-year time frame and large dollar amount while preserving money for projects left unfinished from the 2018 referendum. One council member explained, "we only have a 1% sales tax in Beaufort County… the other 6 is the state," stressing the county’s limited local share. Opponents and some public commenters warned of repeating past delays and urged greater transparency on why earlier projects remained incomplete.
Project and bond specifics: Council directed staff to adjust the ballot language to reflect the $950 million total, explicitly exclude the Buckwalter Parkway (5B) extension from Bluffton’s $30 million allocation, and incorporate Sea Pines Circle improvements in Hilton Head’s listed projects. Council members also agreed administratively to reduce the amount of bonds that could be issued as part of the program (a figure discussed at the meeting was $515,000,000). The chair and other members said the second reading will be held at the next council meeting and the third reading with a public hearing will follow.
Next steps: The ordinance was remanded for a new second reading consistent with the approved amendments; council directed staff to publish updated materials and project lists in advance of the next readings and the public hearing. No final voter referendum has been adopted yet; the measure will return for required readings and public notice before it is placed on a ballot.
