Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Tax topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves transportation sales-tax referendum for the ballot after public hearings
Summary
After hours of public comment and committee work, Beaufort County Council voted 8–3 to place a one-cent transportation sales-tax referendum on the November ballot, with proponents calling it necessary for road safety and opponents warning of insufficient transparency and project specificity.
Beaufort County Council voted 8–3 on June 22 to place a 1¢ transportation sales-tax referendum before voters. The ordinance passed after a public hearing that featured supporters who said the tax is essential to repair unsafe roads and critics who raised transparency and project-prioritization concerns.
Supporters — including members of the county’s Transportation Advisory Committee and business groups — argued the funding is needed to address gridlock on US 278, US 21 and SC 170 and to improve school-safety routes and emergency response. “This is about protecting our school children, helping residents get to work safely and on time, supporting our businesses and our economy, and most importantly, improving public safety,” one supporter said during public comment.
Opponents, including public commenters and at least one council member, criticized the process as rushed and said the ballot language still contained “may include” phrasing that could leave project lists vague. Jennifer Erickson, a tax committee member, also warned that the county’s use of marketing funds and billboards risked appearing as promotion rather than public education.
Council members who supported the measure said staff revised the package between readings to shift some burden away from residents and toward tourists (for example, removing certain unprepared-food charges), and noted a detailed project list will appear in the ballot question so voters can see specific projects.
What happens next: If voters approve the countywide referendum in November, the county would use the proceeds for the projects listed in the ballot question and follow required oversight and reporting. If it fails, transportation project timelines and funding strategies would need to be revisited by the council.
