Beaufort may ask voters for a sales tax increase.

Beaufort County This Week

STORY 1

From the Island Packet

The Beaufort County Council is considering a resolution for November’s ballot that would ask voters to add another 1% to the sales and use tax beginning on May 1, 2025 and running until 2040. The county’s current sales tax rate is 7%. Six percent goes to the state and 1% goes to buying and preserving green space.

If approved, the tax would keep the rate at no less than 7% until 2040. If the measure fails to make the ballot or is defeated in the November election, the county’s sales tax rate should return to 6% after the end of the green space local tax. The tax rate change from 6% to 7% is a 16% increase.

If approved by the council to be on the ballot, voters in November can decide to adopt the added 1%. The tax would run for 15 years or until $1.65 billion has been collected. Collection would start May 1 of next year, when the green space penny sales tax must come to a close.

Story 2

From WSAV

The South Carolina Senate again on Wednesday passed a bill allowing people to use marijuana and related products for medical needs.

Just like in 2022, Republican Tom Davis’ bill is off to the House. It died back then on a procedural ruling in the final days of the session, crushing the Beaufort senator who has been working to pass it for a decade.

Davis said he likes his chances this time and asked House leaders to hold a vote on the bill before the session ends in May and it dies because of all the work that has gone into it.

Story 3

From the Island Packet

Fraudsters targeting South Carolina residents are posing as police in innovative attempts to nab residents’ money. The phone scam has recently resurfaced in Beaufort County and can take on a number of forms, according to the sheriff’s office.

Many of the calls come from fake local law enforcement representatives, bearing titles like “captain” and “sergeant” — often using a real officer’s name. They might lead with a number of different stories, including that the target of the phone call has a warrant for their arrest or they missed jury duty.

No matter what their narrative is, “It all ends with ‘You must pay a fine,’” said Lindsay Housaman, an assistant spokesperson for the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Often threatening the resident’s arrest, the scammers will request payment through Bitcoin, gift cards, PayPal or other financial platforms.

Story 4

From the Post and Courier

Town Council will soon consider an ordinance that aims to better regulate the removal of abandoned boats.

Motivated in part by several years of resident complaints, town staff last year began to consider ways the municipality could take a more active role in removing the abandoned and derelict boats and vessels that occasionally haunt the island’s waterways.

Officials followed parameters set by a 2021 state law to create the Hilton Head Island Boat Control Ordinance. The proposal outlines the town’s authority to regulate the use of all waterways within town limits and — as with state law — would require the town or the Department of Natural Resources to investigate a watercraft before declaring it abandoned.

The ordinance was approved by the town’s Community Services and Public Safety Committee on Feb. 12. Deputy Town Manager Josh Gruber said that if it’s passed, Hilton Head would join efforts already underway by the state and county.