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Council submits project list to Beaufort County with neutrality language; vote 6–1
Summary
Hilton Head Island’s council approved sending a prioritized transportation project list to the county’s advisory committee for a possible transportation sales tax referendum, but amended the resolution to make clear the town remains neutral on the referendum and asked that any revenue allocated to the town be held in a town‑controlled special fund; the resolution passed 6–1 after debate.
The Town Council voted 6–1 on March 10 to approve a resolution submitting a prioritized list of transportation projects to the Beaufort County Transportation Advisory Committee for consideration in a proposed county transportation sales tax referendum, while explicitly affirming the council’s neutrality on the referendum.
Sean Gillan, presenting staff recommendations, said the list includes projects drawn from the town’s capital improvement plan and the Lowcountry Area Transportation strategy: William Hilton Parkway corridor improvements (including Squire Pope and Spanish Wells intersection work), Gumtree Road improvements, Main Street projects, the William Hilton Gateway corridor and Sea Pines Circle. Gillan told the council that submitting the list is a response to the county’s request and does not represent a town endorsement of the tax itself; he said any revenue designated for the town should be transferred to a town special fund and may be used as matching funds as appropriate.
Public commenters urged caution: Stu Rodman and Christopher Cliff warned that submitting a list may be interpreted by voters as council support for the penny sales tax, criticized past county referenda implementation, and urged clarity on project costs, timelines and protections for town funds.
Council debate focused on two competing concerns: getting projects into the county process so the town can compete for funding, and avoiding any appearance of advocacy for the tax. Councilmember Bryson moved to amend the draft resolution to move the neutrality language into the operative section (the “now, therefore be it resolved” clause) and to replace wording that "expresses the sense of the town council" with language stating the town will "respond to the request of the Beaufort County Council to provide a list of projects for consideration of a county 2026 referendum." The amendment passed 7–0. The final resolution, with the council’s neutrality statement and protections (a requested explanation of dollar amounts, a lockbox for any funds transferred to the town, and a request for oversight of project implementation), was approved 6–1.
Councilmembers emphasized they remain neutral on the referendum while using available tools to pursue potential funding for projects already identified in the town’s five‑year CIP. Staff will forward the adopted list and the council’s requested protections to the Transportation Advisory Committee.
