FAQs

No. Current Sales Tax is 7%. The Green Space Sales tax penny will roll-off at the end of December 2024. If approved, the Transportation Sales Tax will replace the existing Green Space Sales Tax and sales tax will remain at 7%.

Yes. Property taxes are assessed based on the value of the property you own, while sales taxes are generated from the purchase of goods and certain services. The renewal of the 1% sales tax will allow non-property owners, as well as those traveling to the County who shop or make purchases, to help share the burden of transportation project costs.

Per state statute (4-37-30), sales tax is levied on most retail purchases. Exceptions to the tax are listed in state statute (12-36-2130) include, rent/mortgage, fuel, unprepared foods, medical prescriptions and supplies.

A 17-member Citizen’s Sales Tax Advisory Committee (STAC 1.0) was first established in January 2022. The committee provided a recommendation to County Council in May of 2022 that included a list of projects throughout the County. Instead of moving a Transportation Sales Tax on the ballot in 2022, a Green Space Sales tax was voted on and approved. In July 2023, County Council re-established a citizens Sales Tax Advisory Committee (STAC 2.0) to develop an update list of projects for consideration. The STAC 2.0 used the STAC 1.0 recommendations as starting point. They reevaluated and adjusted the project list and presented an updated recommendation to Council in December 2023. Council then held a series of 5 informational sessions, during which citizen feedback was gathered. The Public Facilities and Safety Committee then incorporated that feedback into the modified amounts and project list you will find on the ballot this November.

In total there are 34 projects. 4 of the projects (2 pathways complete and 2 Lady Island projects) are completed, 2 are in construction, and 20 are in design.

Infrastructure projects take a long time to develop. Even the most straightforward projects (such as pathways) have the same steps of design, permitting through state and federal agencies, property acquisition and utility coordination. Beaufort County’s collection time is much faster than the implementation time for most projects. The Boundary Street Improvement project was completed 13 years after the 2006 sales tax began and 7 years after the collection finished.

The US 278 Corridor Project is in the final stages of the Environmental Review process. As the environmental review process concludes, the project will move into final design, right-of-way acquisition, and utility coordination.

If approved, a Citizens Led Oversight Committee would be established, similar to that in use at the Beaufort County School District. This would be a volunteer group representing County municipalities as well as unincorporated Beaufort County, and will oversee the referendum projects, schedules, and expenditures.