From staff reports
There are four questions on the ballot Tuesday, Nov. 8 – two Beaufort County questions and two state constitutional questions.
Beaufort County Questions
Question 1A
Shall a special one percent (1%) sales and use tax be imposed in Beaufort County for not more than two (2) years to raise up to $100,000,000 for preservation procurement for the purpose of procuring open lands and green space by and through the acquisition of interests in real property, located within or outside the boundaries of Beaufort County, such interests to include: (a)the acquisition of fee simple titles; (b)conservation easements; (c)development rights; (d)rights of first refusal; (e)options; (f)leases with options to purchase; or (g)any other interests in real property?”
Question 1B
I approve the issuance of not exceeding $100,000,000 in principal amount of general obligation bonds of Beaufort County maturing over a period of not to exceed two (2) years to fund the procurement of open lands and green space identified in Beaufort County Local Referendum
Explanation
The County Council placed two questions on the ballot that would allow the County to buy development rights or total ownership of land to retain it as green spaces, in and outside the boundaries of Beaufort County. The first question would approve a 1 percent sales tax for two years to raise $100 million dollars for land acquisitions; purchases of groceries, gas, and medicine are excluded from the tax. The second question would allow the County to issue bonds to raise the money prior to the actual receipt of the tax money (that will be used to pay the bonds).
Constitutional Amendments
Amendment 1
Must Section 36(A), Article III of the Constitution of this State, relating to the General Reserve Fund, be amended to provide that the General Reserve Fund of five percent of general fund revenue of the latest completed fiscal year must be increased each year by one-half of one percent of the general fund revenue of the latest completed fiscal year until it equals seven percent of such revenues?
Explanation
A ‘Yes’ vote will increase the amount of money state government must keep in the General Reserve Fund (its “rainy day” fund) from 5% of the previous year’s revenue to 7% of the previous year’s revenue.
Amendment 2
Must Section 36(B), Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to provide that the Capital Reserve Fund of two percent of the general fund revenue of the latest completed fiscal year be increased to three percent of the general fund revenue of the latest completed fiscal year and to provide that the first use of the Capital Reserve Fund must be to offset midyear budget reductions?
Explanation
A ‘Yes’ vote will increase the amount of money state government must appropriate to the Capital Reserve Fund (the “reserve and capital improvements” fund) from 2% of the previous year’s revenue to 3% of the previous year’s revenue and require that the Capital Reserve Fund’s first priority is to offset midyear budget cuts at state agencies.
