ATAX grant applications now available from City
Accommodations Tax (ATAX) Grant Applications for Fiscal Year 2025 are now available from the City of Beaufort. The application may be accessed on the City’s website on the City’s Finance Department page (https://bit.ly/3ysHWsN) or at the City Hall, Finance Department, 1911 Boundary Street. For additional information contact the ATAX Administrator Jay Phillips at jphillips@cityofbeaufort.org or 843-525-7071.
All applicants were required to attend one of the City of Beaufort’s two mandatory workshops in August. Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.
Applicants will present their requests to the TDAC in the Council Chambers on Friday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
South Carolina established in the 1980s a 2 percent tax on overnight accommodations in addition to the statewide sales tax. South Carolina Code of Laws Title 6 Chapter 4 Allocations of Accommodations Tax Revenues states how those monies are to be allocated. A small portion of the ATAX money stays in the local municipality or county where it is collected. The remainder must be used to attract and provide for tourists and must be spent on tourism-related expenditures that promote tourism and attract visitors.
Groups hosting A Fund Raising Fish Fry
Penn Center, The St. Helena Gullah Project, the S.C. Coastal Community Development Corporation, Marshview Community Organic Farm, The Gullah Grub Restaurant and the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation are sponsoring A Fund Raising Fish Fry to help reduce the loss of land on St. Helena Island.
The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6 at the Center Stage Area at Penn Center, 16 Penn Circle West, St. Helena Island. Meals, which cost $18, include fried fish, baked beans, pasta salad, dinner rolls, and a drink.
Tickets can be purchased on site the day of the event or in advance until Sept. 6. For credit card payments, call the Penn Center Welcome Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday at 843-838-7105.
For those interested in sponsorship, call Penn Center, Inc., at 843-541-0128. To contact Planning Committee Chair Sara Reynolds Green, call 843-473-0477, or Co-Chair Barbara Gardner Hunter, call 347-497-9326.
Indivisible Beaufort meeting
Indivisible Beaufort is hosting its next meeting at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 7 at the downtown Beaufort Library at 311 Scott Street.
The featured speaker will be Chris deVries, who will talk about what you need to know about the next South Carolina Legislative Session.
deVries spent more than 35 years as a nonprofit executive and lobbyist in Washington D.C. She is now involved in leadership in many local groups focusing on advocacy, elections, and politics.
Currently, deVries is serving as Chair of the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic.
deVries will discuss some of the legislation from the last session and what we can expect for the next. She will also explain what could impact the legislation and how citizens can influence the agenda.
The event is free and open to the public.
Beaufort TEA Party meeting
The next Beaufort TEA Party meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 9 at the Olde Beaufort Cafe at Lady’s Island Country Club, 139 Francis Marion Blvd, Lady’s Island.
The meeting topic will be the 2024 Transportation Tax and actions of Beaufort County Council in relation to the Haynesworth, Sinkler, Boyd report.
Erickson to speak at September LIBPA meeting
Shannon S. Erickson will be the featured speaker when the Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association meets at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane, Lady’s Island.
Erickson is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 124th District. Topics of discussion will include education and public works. Please stop by for coffee and conversation
concerning the community.
Beaufort County Assessor hosting community events
Beaufort County Assessor Ebony Sanders is hosting multiple community events at County Library Branches to allow the public an opportunity to meet with her staff and share questions and concerns regarding real property.
Each community event will be from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The dates are as follows:
Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road: Tuesday, Sept. 10 – SCRoom; Tuesday, Oct. 1 — Large Room; Tuesday, Oct. 29 – SCRoom; Tuesday, Nov. 19 – SCRoom.
St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road: Tuesday, Sept. 17 — Large Meeting Room; Tuesday, Oct. 15 — Small Conference Room; Tuesday, Nov. 5 — Small Conference Room; Tuesday, Dec. 3 — Large Meeting Room.
Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way: Thursday, Sept. 19 — Large Meeting Room; Thursday, Oct. 17 — Large Meeting Room; Thursday, Nov. 7 — Large Meeting Room; Thursday, Dec. 5 — Large Meeting Room.
Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway: Monday, Sept. 23; Monday, Oct. 7; Monday, Nov. 25; Monday, Dec. 16.
In the event of an unforeseeable change in the date, time, or location, the Assessor’s Office webpage will be updated to reflect rescheduling. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Rigg, Appeal/BAA Coordinator at BAA@bcgov.net or 843-255-2404.
Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club meeting
The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s September meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 7.
Well known local Captain Jason Woodham of Merrikohl Outfillers Fishing Charters (www.merrikohl.com) will make a presentation on Tarpon. He will also discuss rod and reel setups and baits of choice.
Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed. For additional information, please contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-521-7340 or email fgibson@islc.net.
A construction reminder
IPW Construction Group will continue to perform shoulder closures and temporary lane closures the entire length of Laurel Bay Road in Beaufort. Closures will take place between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday to Saturday, until the end of the year.
During this time, please prepare for and expect minor delays in traffic. Drivers traveling through the area are asked to please be mindful of our traffic control team and the crews working within the area. In addition, the ramp coming off U.S. 21 onto Laurel Bay Road is permanently closed.
Lowcountry Regional Public Works Training Conference
The first annual Lowcountry Regional Public Works Training Conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, September 26 at the Buckwalter Recreation Center in Bluffton.
Participants will have the ability to choose from three educational tracks: roadway, stormwater, and environmental. The event is being hosted by the Beaufort Regional Civil Engineers Club and the Lowcountry Branch of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Public Works Association, in cooperation with Beaufort County Public Works.
This exciting one-day event will feature panel discussions, on-site training, and equipment demonstrations. Interested participants can register now at https://bit.ly/3YSKon2.
Free Summer Tax Prep Available for Lowcountry Residents Who Missed Deadline
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offering a free summer tax preparation program for qualifying residents of Beaufort and Jasper counties who missed the traditional tax filing deadline.
This program – a collaboration between the IRS, Beaufort County Human Services Alliance, and United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) – is designed to assist low-income individuals and families, non-English speaking taxpayers, people with disabilities, and seniors (age 60+) in accurately and efficiently filing their federal and state tax returns.
“We understand that filing taxes can be overwhelming, especially for those who have limited resources,” United Way Volunteer and VITA Program Coordinator Sherry Halphen said. “Our summer tax preparation program allows residents to receive free assistance from IRS-certified volunteers, ensuring they receive every deduction and credit they deserve.”
Program Details:
- What: Free tax preparation assistance by IRS-certified VITA volunteers.
- When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26.
- Where: United Way of the Lowcountry Bluffton Office (10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite D, Bluffton, S.C. 29910)
- Appointments Required: Call 843.321.9071 or email lowcountryvitacoalition@gmail.com
- Visit www.uwlowcountry.org/VITAforeligibility requirements and a list of documents to bring with you to your appointment.
County VA to offer End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans, families
Beaufort County Veterans Affairs is hosting End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans and their families.
These seminars address things veterans and their families can do today to ensure their personal effects are in order. They also discuss Veterans Affairs benefits that surviving spouses may be entitled to receive.
They will be offered at either 9 a.m. or 1 p.m., at convenient locations around Beaufort County:
- Tuesday, Oct. 15: Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road.
- Tuesday, Oct. 22: St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road.
- Tuesday, Feb. 18: Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, Seabrook.
- Tuesday, Feb. 25: Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way.
- Tuesday, May 20: Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road.
- Tuesday, May 27: Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street.
RSVPs are required for space and resource purposes. Please contact Crystal at 843-255-6880 to reserve your seat. For questions and more information please contact Beaufort County Veterans Affairs at 843-255-6880.
— Staff reports
