Referendum History

November 2026 – Proposed Referendum

The Beaufort County Council approved a referendum question to be placed upon the ballot in November 2026, which will ask the electorate to vote on a 1% sales tax increase beginning in the following year and to remain in effect for 9 years or until $780 million in funds are raised, whichever comes first. A second question asks voters to approve related general obligation bonds of up to $450 million, payable from the sales tax, to help fund completion of the transportation projects.

The proceeds from this tax would be expended by the County for a series of transportation and mobility projects and programs.

In addition, the referendum creates a Citizen-Led Oversight Committee to oversee the prioritization and implementation of the projects and activities to be funded by the referendum which includes:

• Safety and Intersection Improvement Projects: $326 million
• Road Widening Projects: $205 million
• Resurfacing and Dirt Road Paving Projects: $249 million

A special transportation sales and use tax in the amount of one percent to be imposed in Beaufort County for not more than six years, or until a total of $152,000,000 in resulting revenue has been collected, whichever comes first for the following projects:

Bluffton Parkway Phase 5 (US 278 Alternative), new road construction from Buckwalter Parkway to MacKays Creek – $50,000,000

US 278 Improvements, from Sea Pines Circle to SC 170 – $28,000,000

SC 170 Widening, from Bluffton Parkway to Tide Watch Drive – $6,000,000

US 17 Widening, from US 27 to Colleton County Line – $5,000,000

US 21 (Boundary Street) Improvements, from Broad River Road to Palmetto Road – $9,500,000

Boundary Street Parallel Road, new road construction from SC 170 to Palmetto Street – $4,200,000

SC 802 (Ribaut Road) Improvements, from Lenora Drive to Lady’s Island Drive – $600,000