Letter: County sales tax not properly vetted

Have you noticed? There has been no discussion about the Beaufort County wish list to be funded by a 17 percent increase in sales tax included on the Nov. 8 ballot. Apparently, County Council hopes for no discussion and that the tax will slide through without critical examination.

The list contains only titles. There are no descriptions nor justifications given. The items have not been properly vetted and are not ready for the electorate to consider.

An arts campus for Hilton Head Island is allocated $6,202,000. Very precise? Wrong. The number was pulled out of thin air. If approved, it implies another $30 million to $60 million commitment for construction and many millions of taxpayer dollars yearly for operations and maintenance. This campus would degrade our quality of life with added taxpayer burdens, loss of open spaces, noise pollution and traffic jams. It must be rejected.

Many other questions need debate. What amenities would be added to Oyster Factory Park for $2 million? Since a citizen proposes to construct a parking deck in Beaufort, is another parking garage needed? Is it in the public’s interest to buy, pave and maintain 21 dirt roads on Hilton Head Island? Would money be better allocated toward widening or replacing the bridges to Hilton Head? Should funding be provided for a parking garage in Bluffton?

This sales tax initiative must be defeated. Spend the next two years vetting a proper list of projects and consider a sales tax initiative for the ballot in 2018.

This story was originally published September 30, 2016 at 9:15 AM with the headline "Letter: County sales tax not properly vetted."