Beaufort Co. penny sales tax passes by slim margin to fund $780M in road, safety projects

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - After failing by more than 11,000 votes in 2022, a 1% transportation sales tax was back on the ballot this year in Beaufort County, and this time, voters narrowly approved it by a little over 1,000 votes.

The penny tax, which takes effect May 1, is expected to generate approximately $780 million over nine years to fund more than 60 infrastructure and roadway improvements across the county.

Officials say the projects are vital as traffic continues to swell on heavily traveled corridors like S.C. Highway 170 and U.S. 278.

“I mean the whole purpose of the program was to provide safety and capacity enhancements throughout our community,” Assistant Beaufort County Administrator Jared Fralix said. “These projects are warranted and needed, and we hope that we can get these projects delivered in a fast and effective manner that everybody can enjoy for years to come.”

For local workers and commuters navigating congested routes daily, safety concerns outweighed worries over a slightly higher sales tax.

Especially for Michelle Forsythe, who just started working at May River Beauty off of SC 170.

“I just started working here today because we just changed locations of the salon and I had to go to the back way cause I’m so afraid to make a left-hand turn without a traffic light,” Forsythe said.

Her coworker, Laura Manning, agreed that roadway improvements cannot wait.

“It’s just accident after accident,” Manning said. “It’s going to be worth it,” Manning said. “Everybody says something has to be done, and what is it going to take? It’s already taken too many lives.”

Forsythe added: “I mean one percent or your safety, you’d rather pay the one percent.”

Overcoming past skepticism with transparency

Passing the tax required county leaders to overcome significant public hesitation.

In 2022, voters soundly rejected a similar referendum amid frustration over county spending and delays on road projects approved under the 2018 sales tax. projects county officials now say should be wrapped up by 2028.

Some of those same concerns came to life this year.

To try and rebuild public trust this cycle, county leaders published a specific, finalized list of over 60 designated projects, hosted widespread community meetings to explain the plan, and pledged strict oversight.

The county will form a Citizen Oversight Committee consisting of three members appointed by Beaufort County Council and one representative appointed from each municipality.

Fralix said the committee is expected to begin meeting early next year to monitor project execution and fund distribution.

They are expected to follow a similar model used by the Beaufort County School District.

“Just having this committee of other private citizens oversee the work the staff is doing to implement these projects, we think it’d be helpful and to help build rapport and trust back with the council and the community,” Fralix said.

What the tax covers and what is exempt

The 1% sales tax applies to most general retail purchases throughout Beaufort County starting May 1. However, several essential living expenses are explicitly exempt:

• Unprepared grocery store food
• Prescription medications and medical purchases
• Rent and mortgage payments

Alongside the tax, voters also addressed a second ballot question approving bond authorization against projected tax revenue.

According to Fralix, the bonding authority allows the county to borrow against future proceeds so work can begin immediately rather than waiting years for revenue to accumulate.

New projects under the approved referendum could get underway as early as 2027.