Charleston County, South Carolina – Charleston County officials will hold a public hearing Monday to examine the possibility of extending the county’s half-cent transportation sales tax, which is slated to expire in 2027.
For more than 20 years, the transit Sales Tax has provided funding for infrastructure, transit, and green space initiatives throughout the county.
“We’re inviting the community to come out and listen to a short presentation before asking questions about the current program and potential future programs,” said Eric Adams, Charleston County’s public works director.
Taxes fund big infrastructure investments.
The sales tax has helped to support considerable roadway development, transit service, and green space protection across the county.
“Over the last 20-plus years of the transportation sales tax, it’s had an extreme impact on roadway infrastructure, transit service, but also protection of green space,” Mr. Adams stated. “So it’s really protecting our quality of life and preserving quality of life around mobility.”
Fort Johnson Road renovations were one of the major tax-funded projects. The county also spent tax resources on James Island to improve the Camp Road corridor between Camp and Secessionville and Camp and Fort Johnson Road, adding a traffic light at one intersection and an urban compact roundabout at the other.
Officials want community input.
According to County Councilwoman Jenny Costa Honeycutt, the meetings are designed to garner community opinion for prospective future projects.
“Be asking the voters to decide what projects and what areas of focus that should be,” Honeycutt told reporters. “It is absolutely important that we hear from as many people as possible, so we have all of those ideas on the table to really vet and decide how that program can go forward.”
Adams stated that officials want feedback on traffic congestion, enhanced bus service, green space preservation, and particular infrastructure requirements such as sidewalks.
“We’re especially seeking for comments on congestion and where people see traffic. Would they prefer to see greater or more frequent bus service? Would they wish to see specific portions of the community conserved as green space?” Adams stated.
There are currently no specific plans if the tax extension is authorized.
