Want to vote on the Beaufort Co. school referendum Saturday? Here's what you need to know

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the precinct address for Sun City voters.

Beaufort County voters go to the polls Saturday to decide whether the Beaufort County School District can borrow up to $76 million to primarily relieve student overcrowding in Bluffton by building a new school — likely for elementary and middle school students — as well as by expanding two existing schools. The proposal would also expand career and technical education course offerings at three high schools.

The ballot question

Shall the Board of Education of the School District of Beaufort County, South Carolina (the “School District”) be empowered to issue, at one time or from time to time, general obligation bonds of the School District in a total principal amount not to exceed $76,000,000, the proceeds of which shall be used to finance the costs (including architectural, engineering, legal and related fees) of acquiring, constructing, improving, equipping and expanding school facilities within the School District, as follows:

Classroom Additions to Existing Facilities

River Ridge Academy

May River High School

Constructing and Equipping of New Facilities

A new school in Bluffton

New career and technical education building at Beaufort High School, Bluffton High School and Hilton Head Island High School

How much will each project cost?

The official ballot language does not specify. Estimates from district officials put the projects at:

• New school in Bluffton: $44.3 million. While the school board has not voted on grade configuration or capacity size of the new school, the district plans to recommend a PreK-8 configuration with a 1,000-student capacity and room for a 400-student expansion in the future, according to district spokesman Jim Foster. The school would sit adjacent to May River High on land that has already been paid for with proceeds approved in a 2008 referendum. The school will relieve the overcrowding at elementary schools in Bluffton's New Riverside area. Both Pritchardville Elementary and River Ridge will have mobile classrooms next school year to offset overcapacity within the buildings.
• May River High expansion: $11.7 million. A 20-classroom addition would increase the building capacity from 1,400 to 1,800 students.
• River Ridge Academy expansion: $5 million. A 16-classroom addition would bump building capacity from 1,013 to 1,400 students.
• CATE buildings at Beaufort High School, Bluffton High School and Hilton Head Island High School. Each school would get a $5 million, four-classroom facility where students would take classes in different career "pathways," such as automotive technology and culinary.

What is the cost to me?

According to a tax calculator on the Beaufort County School District’s website, a primary resident with a home valued at $200,000 would pay an additional $18.32 in taxes annually. Whether that amount would change over the 25-year life of the bonds depends on a number of factors, including future property tax reassessments, other bonds being retired and new industry moving into the county. The district's website also includes a tax calculator for vehicles, boats, business property and second properties.

If the proposal passes

The school district will borrow up to $76 million in 25-year bonds to begin paying for the projects. The two school expansions will be tackled first, district officials said.

If the questions fails

Homeowners will see no tax increase. The school board will consider other proposals to address school growth such as redistricting, mobile classrooms and larger class sizes. The board could also use its “8 percent” funds, which wouldn't require voter approval, for construction.

The board decided in December to add mobile classrooms as a short-term solution for River Ridge Academy and Pritchardville Elementary. Even with the mobiles, district officials expect overcrowding. River Ridge's capacity in the 2018-19 school year will hover around 110 percent and Pritchardville's will be at 102 percent capacity. The district says an optimal school capacity is 85 percent.

Where to vote

To find your precinct, visit https://bit.ly/1f7x4MF.

For more information on the school board's referendum, visit https://bit.ly/2H8YES0.

This story was originally published April 19, 2018 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Want to vote on the Beaufort Co. school referendum Saturday? Here's what you need to know."