BEAUFORT, S.C. — Beaufort County voters head into the Nov. 3 general election with two big local choices: whether to add a penny to the sales tax for roads, and who will replace the only sheriff many residents have known in a generation.
Sheriff P.J. Tanner is stepping down after seven terms, or 28 years. Republican Doug Seifert and Democrat Alphonso Small Jr. are running for the open seat, with drug abuse, youth gangs and gun violence among the concerns raised in the race.
The transportation sales tax comes as two ballot questions. The first would raise the county rate to 7%, one point above the 6% state base, for up to nine years or until $780 million has been raised. Rent, mortgage payments, gas, unprepared groceries and prescription drugs would not be taxed.
The second question would let the county borrow as much as $450 million in general obligation bonds, repaid by the new tax, so design and construction can start earlier.
County Council gave the plan final approval on June 22. The ordinance also sets up a citizen oversight committee to watch spending and rank projects, and a county website lists the proposed projects on an interactive map.
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Filed under: Beaufort SC Politics News
