RoadsTop story
Beaufort County voters narrowly approve the $780 million penny tax for roads
Voters approved the penny tax and the bond question
Preliminary results, 100% of precincts reporting
1% transportation sales tax
Up to $450 million in bonds
Source: Hilton Head Island Packet
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| Race | Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1% transportation sales tax | Yes, won | 40,951 | 50.8% |
| 1% transportation sales tax | No | 39,724 | 49.2% |
| Up to $450 million in bonds | Yes, won | 42,660 | 51.4% |
| Up to $450 million in bonds | No | 40,276 | 48.6% |
If you drive U.S. 278 or Bluffton Parkway, this one's for you. Beaufort County voters narrowly approved the penny tax Tuesday, 40,951 to 39,724, preliminary results show. It will raise $780 million over nine years for 87 road and intersection projects.
Voters also approved up to $450 million in bonds so work can start before the tax money builds up. The bonds get repaid from the new sales tax. Bluffton spots on the list include William Fording Island Road (U.S. 278) and Buckwalter Parkway at Bluffton Parkway.
- Rate: the county sales tax goes from 6% to 7%
- Collections begin May 1, 2027
- Length: up to nine years, or until $780 million is collected
The plan splits the $780 million three ways. Heather Woolwine of the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce told WSAV the county can't stop growth but needs infrastructure changes.
Safety and intersection fixes get the biggest slice of the $780 million
Source: WJCL
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| Amount | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Safety and intersections | $326M | 41.8% |
| Resurfacing and dirt-road paving | $249M | 31.9% |
| Road widening | $205M | 26.3% |
It was the eighth transportation tax question since 1996. Voters rejected $950 million in 2024.
