News Release

Beaufort County Local Option Sales Tax Referendum on November 2 Election Ballot

October 25, 2021

On Tuesday, November 2, Beaufort County voters will be asked to consider the approval of a 1-cent sales tax that would reduce property taxes and provide additional funds to municipalities for locally directed investment.

South Carolina state law (SC Code of Laws, Section 4-10-10) authorizes counties, with voter approval, to leverage sales tax dollars, known as Local Option Sales Tax, to reduce the burden of property tax on residents.

Specifically, the tax is allocated as follows:

• Seventy-one percent (71%) of revenues collected under the program go directly to property tax reduction for residents (real property, vehicles, boats, etc.).
• Twenty-nine percent (29%) of revenues are allocated directly to local governments for inclusion in locally directed investments (programs, infrastructure, etc.).

The State of South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office estimates Beaufort County will receive $49 million in collections. Of that, about $32.8 million would be allocated back to resident taxpayers in the form of property tax credits, and $13.4 million would be available for local municipalities to determine how to use. The state will receive $2.4 million.

If voters approve the referendum:

• The 1-cent sales tax will begin on May 1, 2022.
• Property tax credit will be effective for the tax bills scheduled to go out in October 2022. Use the tax calculator at hiltonheadislandsc.gov/lost/ to get an estimate of the tax credit you may receive.
   

Additional voting information for the upcoming election

In-Person absentee voting at the Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island absentee precincts has begun. Voters may vote in-person Monday - Friday from 9 am - 4 pm. The last day to vote in-person absentee is Monday, November 1, 2021, 9 am - 5 pm. The Hilton Head Island Absentee Precinct is located at 539 William Hilton Parkway.
 

For more information about the Local Option Sales Tax Referendum, visit https://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/lost/