Both school proposals shot down by Beaufort County voters

Beaufort County voters were unmoved by the Beaufort County Board of Education’s request for more than $300 million in new sales tax revenue to pay for new schools, make improvements to existing ones and reduce property taxes.

They soundly defeated two proposals on Tuesday’s ballot: one to allow the district to borrow $217 million for the work and a second to increase the county’s sales tax by 1 percent.

The bond question was failing 54.63 percent to 45.37 percent and the sales tax was failing 59.19 to 40.81 at 2:50 a.m. Wednesday with 91 of 92 precincts reporting.

Voters also shot down the Beaufort County 1 percent sales tax referendum for countywide infrastructure and capital improvements. With those results, the county sales tax will remain at 6 percent.

For some voters, the two school district proposals were a referendum on the school board itself, which has faced criticism for its handling of the superintendent’s nepotism scandal in November 2015 and its apparent dysfunction since then.

Mike and Barbara Garrigan of Hilton Head Island said those problems impacted their decision at the polls Tuesday.

“I feel like the board has been really remiss in its duties,” Barbara Garrigan said. Mike Garrigan added that he thought the projects seemed too expensive and the sales tax increase would last for too long — 10 years.

Many others at the polls Tuesday said they were unaware of or confused by the questions. Some told reporters they were unsure how they had voted just moments earlier or that they had to spend an inordinate amount of time reading the questions.

“You almost have to be a lawyer to understand them,” said Darwin Cleveland of St. Helena Island, who voted for the bond proposal but against the educational sales tax as a compromise. He wanted to support education but disliked that there were far fewer projects in northern Beaufort County than in the southern part.

He wasn’t alone in splitting his vote.

The school district’s bond referendum had slightly more support than the educational sales tax. About 45.37 percent, or about 29,955 of 66,024 people, voted “yes” to allowing the school board to borrow $217 million to carry out its list of capital projects.

That’s compared to only 40.81 percent, or about 27,692 of 67,863 people, who voted “yes” to the sales tax.

School board members had promised to reduce property taxes on district debt service by more than 42 percent if both referendums passed.

Now that both questions have been struck down, the school district will have to scramble to complete a new plan for capital improvements so it can continue to keep pace with growing enrollment and aging facilities. Its plans included the construction of two new schools in Bluffton and additions or renovations to nine existing schools.

The election results will be a disappointment to some who voted for those projects, like Del Marie McDonald of Lady’s Island.

“Education is the future of our country,” she said. “I think if we don’t support them and do what we can, it’s going to fall apart.”

Superintendent Jeff Moss has said failure to carry out its projects could force the district to increase class sizes, add modular classrooms, redistrict or change which schools serve which grades.

Attempts to reach Moss and board chairwoman Mary Cordray were unsuccessful late Tuesday.

Click or tap here for more results

Precinct results for ballot questions

All results from SC Election Commission and are unofficial until certified.

Ballot question 1: Beaufort County 1% Capital Projects Sales Tax Referendum

Map legend: Blue = Opposed to question, green = In favor of the question

 

Precinct	Yes	No	Total
BEAUFORT 1	167	186	353
BEAUFORT 2	205	234	439
BEAUFORT 3	252	287	539
BURTON 1A	318	383	701
BURTON 1B	193	211	404
BURTON 1C	280	320	600
BURTON 2A	237	386	623
BURTON 2B	315	405	720
BURTON 2C	377	432	809
BURTON 3	102	101	203
CHECHESSEE 1	393	435	828
CHECHESSEE 2	387	332	719
Ladys Island 1A	283	379	662
Ladys Island 1B	315	390	705
Ladys Island 2A	314	475	789
Ladys Island 2B	244	331	575
Ladys Island 3A	177	251	428
Ladys Island 3B	222	307	529
Mossy Oaks 1A	194	284	478
Mossy Oaks 1B	264	313	577
Mossy Oaks 2	242	295	537
PORT ROYAL 1	232	253	485
PORT ROYAL 2	232	244	476
DALE LOBECO	189	243	432
SEABROOK 1	198	268	466
SEABROOK 2	180	187	367
SEABROOK 3	276	325	601
SHELDON 1	255	219	474
SHELDON 2	175	164	339
BURTON 1D	124	128	252
Saint Helena 1A	171	303	474
Saint Helena 1B	221	332	553
Saint Helena 1C	310	477	787
Saint Helena 2A	231	333	564
Saint Helena 2B	192	362	554
Saint Helena 2C	227	362	589
Ladys Island 2C	212	268	480
Ladys Island 3C	191	252	443
DAUFUSKIE	150	71	221
HILTON HEAD 1A	310	258	568
HILTON HEAD 1B	303	217	520
HILTON HEAD 2A	367	326	693
HILTON HEAD 2B	314	245	559
HILTON HEAD 2C	355	545	900
HILTON HEAD 3	231	260	491
HILTON HEAD 4A	180	246	426
HILTON HEAD 4B	258	401	659
HILTON HEAD 4C	252	306	558
HILTON HEAD 4D	259	372	631
HILTON HEAD 5A	0	0	0
HILTON HEAD 5B	223	333	556
HILTON HEAD 5C	250	297	547
HILTON HEAD 6	304	477	781
HILTON HEAD 7A	224	375	599
HILTON HEAD 7B	274	371	645
HILTON HEAD 8	198	239	437
HILTON HEAD 9A	373	436	809
HILTON HEAD 9B	274	414	688
HILTON HEAD 10	452	417	869
HILTON HEAD 11	200	378	578
HILTON HEAD 12	167	221	388
HILTON HEAD 13	261	309	570
HILTON HEAD 14	209	318	527
HILTON HEAD 15A	125	207	332
HILTON HEAD 15B	214	294	508
BELFAIR	495	569	1,064
Bluffton 1A	341	324	665
Bluffton 1B	250	225	475
Bluffton 1C	340	354	694
Bluffton 1D	341	269	610
Bluffton 2A	256	183	439
Bluffton 2B	262	257	519
Bluffton 2C	473	647	1,120
MOSS CREEK	447	518	965
Bluffton 3	203	196	399
Bluffton 4A	176	222	398
Bluffton 4B	294	330	624
Bluffton 4C	386	434	820
Bluffton 5A	268	272	540
Bluffton 2D	547	574	1,121
Bluffton 2E	283	269	552
ROSE HILL	393	586	979
Bluffton 4D	263	353	616
Bluffton 5B	222	249	471
SUN CITY 1	264	377	641
SUN CITY 2	181	246	427
SUN CITY 3	259	395	654
SUN CITY 4	226	308	534
SUN CITY 5	205	327	532
SUN CITY 6	228	291	519
SUN CITY 7	193	263	456
SUN CITY 8	266	357	623
Absentee	7653	8409	16,062
Emergency	0	0	0
Failsafe	82	81	163
Provisional	0	0	0
Failsafe Provisional	0	0	0
Total:	31,621	37,675	69,296

Ballot question 2: Beaufort County School District $217,000,000 General Obligation Bonds

Map legend: Blue = Opposed to question, green = In favor of the question

 

Precinct	In favor of the question	Opposed to the question	Total
BEAUFORT 1	157	182	339
BEAUFORT 2	192	232	424
BEAUFORT 3	234	295	529
BURTON 1A	340	329	669
BURTON 1B	216	158	374
BURTON 1C	298	277	575
BURTON 2A	284	320	604
BURTON 2B	359	332	691
BURTON 2C	382	411	793
BURTON 3	124	76	200
CHECHESSEE 1	329	467	796
CHECHESSEE 2	376	317	693
Ladys Island 1A	315	331	646
Ladys Island 1B	290	392	682
Ladys Island 2A	353	409	762
Ladys Island 2B	260	305	565
Ladys Island 3A	151	263	414
Ladys Island 3B	187	321	508
Mossy Oaks 1A	202	263	465
Mossy Oaks 1B	238	326	564
Mossy Oaks 2	239	271	510
PORT ROYAL 1	222	241	463
PORT ROYAL 2	259	215	474
DALE LOBECO	213	180	393
SEABROOK 1	244	201	445
SEABROOK 2	174	168	342
SEABROOK 3	316	258	574
SHELDON 1	238	194	432
SHELDON 2	199	114	313
BURTON 1D	162	81	243
Saint Helena 1A	190	253	443
Saint Helena 1B	220	285	505
Saint Helena 1C	231	525	756
Saint Helena 2A	241	278	519
Saint Helena 2B	234	296	530
Saint Helena 2C	187	389	576
Ladys Island 2C	200	265	465
Ladys Island 3C	224	209	433
DAUFUSKIE	106	99	205
HILTON HEAD 1A	296	241	537
HILTON HEAD 1B	228	252	480
HILTON HEAD 2A	332	327	659
HILTON HEAD 2B	312	195	507
HILTON HEAD 2C	268	598	866
HILTON HEAD 3	201	264	465
HILTON HEAD 4A	140	266	406
HILTON HEAD 4B	183	425	608
HILTON HEAD 4C	186	343	529
HILTON HEAD 4D	206	400	606
HILTON HEAD 5A	0	0	0
HILTON HEAD 5B	170	367	537
HILTON HEAD 5C	200	332	532
HILTON HEAD 6	238	510	748
HILTON HEAD 7A	207	367	574
HILTON HEAD 7B	226	394	620
HILTON HEAD 8	167	254	421
HILTON HEAD 9A	355	413	768
HILTON HEAD 9B	182	479	661
HILTON HEAD 10	439	420	859
HILTON HEAD 11	176	373	549
HILTON HEAD 12	124	240	364
HILTON HEAD 13	251	298	549
HILTON HEAD 14	170	336	506
HILTON HEAD 15A	99	226	325
HILTON HEAD 15B	160	331	491
BELFAIR	393	633	1,026
Bluffton 1A	344	297	641
Bluffton 1B	229	235	464
Bluffton 1C	354	313	667
Bluffton 1D	321	263	584
Bluffton 2A	252	164	416
Bluffton 2B	291	212	503
Bluffton 2C	441	635	1,076
MOSS CREEK	318	613	931
Bluffton 3	182	199	381
Bluffton 4A	139	242	381
Bluffton 4B	290	319	609
Bluffton 4C	412	378	790
Bluffton 5A	251	268	519
Bluffton 2D	570	502	1,072
Bluffton 2E	302	244	546
ROSE HILL	387	553	940
Bluffton 4D	246	347	593
Bluffton 5B	245	207	452
SUN CITY 1	198	378	576
SUN CITY 2	126	253	379
SUN CITY 3	192	391	583
SUN CITY 4	173	334	507
SUN CITY 5	162	350	512
SUN CITY 6	161	330	491
SUN CITY 7	147	269	416
SUN CITY 8	230	362	592
Absentee	7600	7537	15,137
Emergency	0	0	0
Failsafe	97	62	159
Provisional	0	0	0
Failsafe Provisional	0	0	0
Total:	29,955	36,069	66,024

Ballot question 3: Beaufort County Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax Act Referendum

Map legend: Blue = Opposed to question, green = In favor of the question

 

Precinct	In favor of the question	Opposed to the question	Total
BEAUFORT 1	153	191	344
BEAUFORT 2	180	253	433
BEAUFORT 3	213	320	533
BURTON 1A	316	382	698
BURTON 1B	205	182	387
BURTON 1C	260	326	586
BURTON 2A	267	346	613
BURTON 2B	338	369	707
BURTON 2C	353	456	809
BURTON 3	115	86	201
CHECHESSEE 1	320	498	818
CHECHESSEE 2	335	367	702
Ladys Island 1A	286	373	659
Ladys Island 1B	255	438	693
Ladys Island 2A	317	470	787
Ladys Island 2B	237	341	578
Ladys Island 3A	146	279	425
Ladys Island 3B	158	359	517
Mossy Oaks 1A	191	279	470
Mossy Oaks 1B	231	343	574
Mossy Oaks 2	222	300	522
PORT ROYAL 1	224	256	480
PORT ROYAL 2	234	243	477
DALE LOBECO	186	216	402
SEABROOK 1	225	232	457
SEABROOK 2	166	190	356
SEABROOK 3	306	277	583
SHELDON 1	240	206	446
SHELDON 2	201	124	325
BURTON 1D	143	106	249
Saint Helena 1A	201	260	461
Saint Helena 1B	243	287	530
Saint Helena 1C	193	585	778
Saint Helena 2A	237	308	545
Saint Helena 2B	227	317	544
Saint Helena 2C	173	419	592
Ladys Island 2C	197	276	473
Ladys Island 3C	200	246	446
DAUFUSKIE	101	114	215
HILTON HEAD 1A	275	264	539
HILTON HEAD 1B	221	270	491
HILTON HEAD 2A	310	356	666
HILTON HEAD 2B	289	230	519
HILTON HEAD 2C	232	657	889
HILTON HEAD 3	177	299	476
HILTON HEAD 4A	130	283	413
HILTON HEAD 4B	157	458	615
HILTON HEAD 4C	182	353	535
HILTON HEAD 4D	171	438	609
HILTON HEAD 5A	0	0	0
HILTON HEAD 5B	153	389	542
HILTON HEAD 5C	183	354	537
HILTON HEAD 6	192	569	761
HILTON HEAD 7A	181	412	593
HILTON HEAD 7B	226	415	641
HILTON HEAD 8	144	278	422
HILTON HEAD 9A	338	440	778
HILTON HEAD 9B	159	506	665
HILTON HEAD 10	377	467	844
HILTON HEAD 11	160	414	574
HILTON HEAD 12	130	241	371
HILTON HEAD 13	242	320	562
HILTON HEAD 14	139	384	523
HILTON HEAD 15A	88	239	327
HILTON HEAD 15B	137	367	504
BELFAIR	325	724	1,049
Bluffton 1A	339	322	661
Bluffton 1B	213	254	467
Bluffton 1C	334	361	695
Bluffton 1D	302	291	593
Bluffton 2A	240	194	434
Bluffton 2B	255	263	518
Bluffton 2C	415	698	1,113
MOSS CREEK	270	681	951
Bluffton 3	179	220	399
Bluffton 4A	121	272	393
Bluffton 4B	248	377	625
Bluffton 4C	382	420	802
Bluffton 5A	231	304	535
Bluffton 2D	551	553	1,104
Bluffton 2E	281	267	548
ROSE HILL	337	626	963
Bluffton 4D	218	397	615
Bluffton 5B	236	226	462
SUN CITY 1	182	425	607
SUN CITY 2	114	286	400
SUN CITY 3	182	444	626
SUN CITY 4	144	382	526
SUN CITY 5	147	382	529
SUN CITY 6	154	360	514
SUN CITY 7	147	297	444
SUN CITY 8	227	388	615
Absentee	7034	8666	15,700
Emergency	0	0	0
Failsafe	96	68	164
Provisional	0	0	0
Failsafe Provisional	0	0	0
Total:	27,692	40,171	67,863

This story was originally published November 8, 2016 at 10:54 PM with the headline "Both school proposals shot down by Beaufort County voters."