Beaufort County wants your vote for a new 1% sales tax in November. Here’s what it would fund

Beaufort County Council passed an ordinance for a referendum on a county-wide penny tax this November.

County Council voted 8 to 3 in favor of a referendum on the Transportation Sales Tax on Monday, June 22. The tax would fund roadway projects across Beaufort County.

Beaufort County has tried referendums for a transportation sales tax before in 2018 and 2024. The 2018 referendum passed, while the 2024 referendum failed. Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 sales tax referendum:

How would the tax work?

The tax is not actually one cent. According to the ordinance, it would add a 1% sales tax to all sales made within the county. The tax would persist until either $780 million in tax revenue is collected or nine years have passed since implementation.

The tax must first pass a referendum on election day, November 3, 2026, to be levied. All registered voters in Beaufort County can vote in the referendum, and the tax must receive a majority to pass. If passed, the tax will begin on May 1, 2027. The tax would end on or prior to April 30, 2036.

Rent and mortgage, fuel, unprepared foods, and medical purchases will be exempt from the tax. The tax will apply to non-residents as well.

County Council will also establish a citizen’s oversight committee to oversee use of sales tax revenue. The committee will have seven members, three selected by County Council and one from each Beaufort County town.

How will the revenue be used?

County Council established the 2026 Transportation Advisory Committee to determine how the tax would work and how revenue should be allocated. The committee consists of community leaders and representatives of each County Council district. The committee proposed multiple projects, and revenue will be allocated to these project types:

• $326 million for safety and intersection improvement projects
• $205 million for road-widening projects
• $249 million for resurfacing and dirt road paving projects

Safety and intersection improvements include improvements to traffic signals and intersections across the county. Road-widening projects will be carried out on state highways 170 and 46, U.S. highway 278, as well as on the Neil Road intersection. Resurfacing and dirt road paving projects will be carried out across the county as well.

Beaufort County Council Chair Alice Howard said at the June 22 County Council meeting the improvements funded by the tax are needed for safety. Children commuting to school will benefit from the improvements as well, she said.

“This is a school safety problem too,” Howard said. “I want our children to be safe on our roads and if we don’t pass this (ordinance) our school buses are not going to get to school on time, and they may not get there safely.”

The sales tax will fund improvements to both county roads and town roads. A full list of projects and the funds allocated to them can be found here.