At the March 18, 2025 Beaufort County Council workshop, frustration was palpable as staff and council members reviewed the status of transportation and pathway projects funded by the 2018 penny sales tax referendum. Seven years after voters approved the $120 million tax package, most of the projects remain untouched, and only a small fraction of the funding—just over $31 million out of $150.5 million in taxes collected and grants—has been spent.
Despite the lag in progress, county staff are already pressing ahead with preparations for a 2026 tax referendum—just two years after the 2024 referendum was defeated 55%-45% by voters. This push has raised concerns among several council members who insist that the public needs clarity, trust, and results before the County can credibly ask for more money. Council members stressed that future success hinges on demonstrating real progress with the projects already approved by voters.
A little over a month later on May 8, 2025, County Council again had a workshop. The official agenda, and published agenda packet all suggest that the meeting was again to be about projects still needing completion from the 2018 tax referendum. But instead, the meeting was actually a presentation to advise Council about how to move forward with a 2026 penny tax referendum. During public comment there were questions about projects from the 2018 referendum, but those questions were never answered or addressed, instead the 90 minute meeting was a discussion about how to successfully levy a new tax. At the May 8 meeting, Council members were more supportive of the idea to push for a new referendum.
Most recently, at County Council’s July 14, 2025 meeting, both the 2018 referendum projects and a 2026 referendum were both on the agenda. A resolution was passed to approve staff’s recommendation for the order of priority to be placed on the remaining 2018 projects. Another resolution was passed to give the County Administrator the go-ahead to look into placing a new referendum on the ballot in 2026.
Millions Collected, Little to Show
Out of the $150.5 million collected from the 2018 Transportation Sales Tax and grants, the county has spent just $31 million:
- $19.25M on the US 278 Corridor
- $7.3M on the Lady’s Island Corridor
- $4.5M on Pathways
That leaves $119.5 million unspent or unallocated. Many of the 2018 projects, particularly pathways and Lady’s Island infrastructure, have yet to even begin construction. According to the referendum tracking site beaufortcountypenny.com, only 4 of the 28 active projects have been completed.
Council Makes Their Priorities Clear
Several Council members expressed concern about rushing to another referendum when so much of the 2018 referendum is left undone. Councilman Joe Passiment emphasized the need for public trust:
“What I like about this [refocused project plan] is it addresses specific needed projects in an area north of the Broad, who said ‘no’ on this latest referendum—because they didn’t feel they were going to get anything out of it.” (click here to see video)
On March 18, Councilman Larry McElynn summed things up well after Fralix and others repeatedly emphasized the need to “educate” the public about any future referendums, McElynn had this to say:
“I keep hearing to educate the public to understand. I think these people are smarter than.. us, me. I don’t think we have to educate them. I think we have to show them that we actually do what we say we’re going to do. I mean, is there a project that was on the list for seven years that’s not been done? That’s pretty basic to understand. It’s not getting done. If we do the work that we promise the people, what do we have to educate them on?” (click here to see video)
With Deputy County Administrator Jared Fralix telling Council, “We’ve got more projects than funding,” and a 2026 referendum looking more and more likely, Beaufort County voters will have to be careful they do not agree to pay for the same 2018 projects a second time.
Want more information on the County’s sales tax referendums, Beaufort Insider has been following it closely. Check out these articles to get caught up:
