By Joe Passiment
This November, Beaufort County will be asked to decide on an important question: do you want to fund infrastructure and road safety projects with a 1% Transportation Sales Tax?
Before I get into any of the specifics, let me iterate that South Carolina state law prohibits elected officials from advocating — either for or against — referendum questions. I will present the facts only and encourage the citizens to make their own educated choice.
The County maintains a website for its Transportation Referendums at www.beaufortcountypenny.com. This site includes educational information, an informational presentation, meeting dates, and more. Included also is a presentation that was given at the Public Facilities and Safety Committee meeting on August 19 to give a detailed update on project status and what has happened since the passage of the sales tax referendum in 2018. This is a must-read for those who have concerns about the status of projects that were underfunded or incomplete from the 2018 referendum.
Why did Council put a Referendum on the ballot?
The Lowcountry Council of Governments (LCOG) representing Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties completed a traffic study covering the period between January 2017 and October 2023. The study found that on our region’s roadways there were:
— 400-plus fatalities
— 13,000-plus injuries
— 43,000-plus crashes
— 450-plus Bicycle/Pedestrian crashes
— 370-plus Bicycle/Pedestrian injuries
— 70-plus Bicycle/Pedestrian fatalities
These statistics, to me, are frightening, and leave all of us with a critical question: how will we accommodate for the impacts of growth on our area and infrastructure when our roads are already experiencing this number of accidents?
According to Census data, South Carolina is currently the fastest-growing state in the nation. Beaufort County’s neighbor, Jasper County, is the fastest growing county in our state. The growth is not coming, or headed our way, it is here. What affects our region affects all of us.
What are the involved projects?
The goal of the proposed 2024 Sales and Use Tax Referendum is to address current and anticipated infrastructure needs for Beaufort County through the completion of transportation and mobility projects amidst this historic growth in our region. To view the full list of projects, cost estimates, and more please visit www.beaufortcountypenny.com. There are 16 projects listed, incorporating greenbelts, dirt-road paving, municipal projects, and our major corridors.
Some of the largest, and most critical road projects included in this referendum are:
— The Triangle — Capacity and safety improvements along the sections of S.C. 170, U.S. 278, and Argent Blvd. that form a triangle. This project would be developed in collaboration with Jasper County.
— SC 46 Improvements — Capacity and safety upgrades along S.C. 46 from S.C. 170 to Jasper County. Additional safety measures, such as turn lanes at intersections, would be added along S.C. 46 from S.C. 170 to Buckwalter Parkway. All improvements will be designed to preserve the South Carolina Scenic Byway designation.
— U.S. 278 Corridor — Capacity and safety enhancements along U.S. 278 from Moss Creek Drive to Spanish Wells Road. This funding will supplement the monies approved in the 2018 Transportation Sales Tax.
Being good stewards of our beautiful Lowcountry environment is a critical issue to many of us. This referendum includes $50 million for Greenbelt conservation initiatives, which can enhance our efforts toward preserving this special area.
How does this affect the future of our area?
I believe that “the essential and unique role of county council is to envision the future and to provide direction toward that future.” By implementing 1% sales and use tax, both residents and visitors will contribute to the improvements to our infrastructure, rather than asking our residents to shoulder the cost of improvements alone.
This tax, if approved by the electorate, would begin in May 2025 and would replace the current 1% Greenspace tax. The sales and use tax is not charged on basic necessities like medication and groceries.
Beaufort County Council envisions a future with safe and efficient road systems. We envision a future where neighboring counties and the entire region can also benefit from these improvements (Jasper County has also placed a referendum on the ballot this November). We envision a future of sustainable and responsible growth that does not outpace our infrastructure. We envision a future where all who live, work, and play in the area can be assured that the roads they travel are reliable and safe.
I hope this missive has helped to inform on the reasons why a Transportation Sales Tax has been placed on the ballot this November, and you are encouraged to view the data at ww.beaufortcountypenny.com.
Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 21, and election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Joe Passiment is the Chair of the Beaufort County Council.
