<strong>Accommodations Tax applications due by Sept. 16</strong>

The Beaufort County Accommodations Tax Board is now accepting applications from organizations in Beaufort County wanting to receive grants from the 2 percent state accommodations tax fund.

South Carolina law allows for a 2 percent tax levy on the rental of all transient accommodations to help provide financial support to promote tourism and fund tourism-related activities in municipalities and counties within the state.

As a result, individuals staying overnight in hotels, motels, inns, and vacation rentals pay 2 percent in addition to the statewide sales tax and any local sales and use tax applied to their lodging cost.

The current year application (2020/2021) is available online at https://bit.ly/2CKzOXO.

Applications will not be accepted if received incomplete or after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020.

Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Linda Maietta at 843-255-2297 or atax@bcgov.net.

<strong>County open for business, despite building closings</strong>

Beaufort County wants to remind people that, though Beaufort County Government buildings remain closed to the public, there are many convenient ways to conduct business with the County during the COVID-19 health crisis.

Services by the Assessor, Auditor, Business License, Planning and Zoning, Treasurer, Clerk of Court, and other County offices are accessible online, by phone, fax, or through the mail.

Drop boxes have also been placed outside of the County Administration Building (Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort) for citizens to drop off and pick up paperwork such as business license applications, permit applications, and plans for review. The County will invoice for any associated fees for submission that normally require immediate payment. Please do not deposit cash or checks in these boxes, which will be monitored and emptied daily so that all paperwork can be processed accordingly.

Beaufort County Library System continues to offer curbside service at all five branch libraries from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information about individual departments, go to www.beaufortcountysc.gov and select “Government” at the top of the page.

<strong>Inspection of Broad River Pier has started</strong>

Underwater structural inspections of Beaufort’s Broad River Fishing Pier have started. The inspections are dependent on weather and are scheduled through July 31.

Structural inspections of the pier above the water line will begin the second week of August. The inspections are dependent on weather and are scheduled to last the entire week.

At this time, the Broad River Fishing Pier will remain open for the duration of the inspections and both the parking lot and boat ramp will be available.

For more information, contact the Beaufort County Construction Management Department at 843-255-2700.

<strong>Woodland River Festival canceled</strong>

The 15th Annual Lands End Woodland River Festival, scheduled for Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Lands End beachfront, has been canceled because to the COVID-19 precautionary mandates. Next year’s festival is scheduled for Sept. 3-4, 2021.