GEORGETOWN — Georgetown County residents will vote on two new sales taxes this November.
But before that vote takes place, the county plans to go on an educational campaign in August, September and October, holding community meetings to inform voters about each referendum. At least three meetings have already taken place between Aug. 13:21.
“We really want county support,” Georgetown County Administrator Angela Christian said. “We have some great opportunities to change and better the course of what’s happening in Georgetown County.”
County officials said both taxes would shift some of the tax burden for services and projects from county residents to visitors. If approved, the taxes would go into effect in May 2025, and each would add a 1 cent levy on every $1 spent on items subject to sales tax.
Groceries, prescriptions and other items exempt from the state’s 6 percent sales tax would also be exempt from the proposed 1 percent taxes. A list of exempted items can be found on the South Carolina Department of Revenue’s website.
The scheduled meetings are as follows. They all start at 5:30 p.m.:
- Monday, Aug. 26 at Waccamaw Library Auditorium.
- Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Southern Georgetown Library.
- Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Andrews Elementary School.
- Thursday, Oct. 3 at Plantersville Elementary School.
- Thursday, Oct. 10 at Howard Auditorium — This meeting will be livestreamed.
- Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Waccamaw Regional Recreation Center.
The first referendum involves a 1 percent capital project sales tax that would be collected countywide for eight years. The tax is projected to bring in about $10 million per year and pay for a variety of new facilities and infrastructure.
If approved, nearly two dozen projects could be funded, including water and sewer improvements in Andrews, a Georgetown passenger facility for the region’s bus service and storm water drainage enhancements in Pawleys Island. Commissioners whittled down a list of over 60 projects to the 22 primary projects and 19 on a contingency list in case there’s additional funding.
Georgetown County voters last approved a sales tax like this a decade ago. That tax was collected for four years and brought in $41 million. It paid for dredging in Murrells Inlet, road resurfacing and fire service improvements.
Additionally, a 1 percent local option sales tax will also be on the November ballot. This second 1 percent sales tax would bring in additional revenue for local governments, but its primary purpose would be to reduce residents’ property tax burden.
Like the capital projects sales tax, it’s expected to bring in about $10 million per year. Of that, 71 percent would be used for property tax rollbacks, while the rest would be divided between the county and cities based on population.
If the tax is approved, county officials estimate that a resident who owns a $200,000 home would save $381.89 each year. There would also be annual savings for those who own vehicles and boats: $57.28 for a $30,000 car and $47.74 for a $25,000 boat.
If voters approve both 1 percent taxes, the sales tax in the county would increase from 6 to 8 percent.
Here’s the list of capital projects expected to be on the Nov. 5 ballot:
1. Browns Ferry Water District: $3,068,000 for water system improvements.
2. City of Georgetown: $1,040,000 (as grant match funding) for the relocation of electric utility lines along Black River Road for improved traffic and hospital access.
3. Waccamaw Regional Transit Authority: $624,000 (as grant match funding) for a passenger transfer facility in Georgetown.
4. Town of Andrews: $2,332,070 for East Cherry Street, Rosemary Avenue and Georgetown Highway water system improvements.
5. Town of Andrews: $652,426 (as grant match funding) for South Rosemary, Morgan Avenue, East Cherry Street and systemwide water and sewer improvements.
6. Town of Pawleys Island: $286,000 for north jetty improvements.
7. Georgetown County: $832,000 for construction of a 9,500-square-foot, all-weather pavilion at the Northwest Regional Park at Pleasant Hill.
8. Georgetown County: $572,000 for construction of an outdoor multisport complex adjacent to the Waccamaw Regional Recreation Center.
9. Georgetown County Water and Sewer District: $13,302,650 for Sampit community sewer installation.
10. Town of Pawleys Island: $2,080,000 for stormwater drainage improvement.
11. Georgetown County: $988,000 for the first phase of the Wachesaw Recreation Park redesign, additions and improvements.
12. Town of Andrews: $1,352,000 for public works and fire equipment storage facility construction.
13. Georgetown County Water and Sewer District: $2,325,866 for Jerusalem and Northwest Old Pee Dee region water project installation.
14. Georgetown County: $1,009,840 for landfill maintenance facility construction.
15. City of Georgetown: $1,040,000 for Maryville fire substation construction.
16. City of Georgetown: $2,570,204 for South Fraser and Emmanuel streets (steel mill system) stormwater improvements.
17. Georgetown County Water and Sewer District: $7,408,591 for first two phases of Kilsock to Plantersville water connection.
18. Georgetown County Water and Sewer District: $7,847,371 for Plantersville water system improvement and upgrades.
19. Georgetown County: $10,000,000 for construction of an Emergency Management Division Operations and 911 Center.
20. Georgetown County: $4,040,794 for the replacement of Midway Fire & Rescue Station 83.
21. Georgetown County: $5,720,633 for drainage and multimodal path construction on MLK Drive in Pawleys Island.
22. Georgetown County Water and Sewer District: $5,282,496 for the St. Luke Community sewer project.
Here’s the list of contingency projects:
1. Georgetown County: $1,000,000 (as grant match funding) for Murrells Inlet dredging.
2. Georgetown County Water and Sewer District: $4,575,165 for Oatland sewer.
3. Georgetown County Water and Sewer District: $2,597,265 for 701 sewer pump station.
4. Georgetown County: $3,540,000 for Parkersville drainage and a multimodal path.
5. Georgetown County: $3,022,269 (as grant match funds) for the second phase of Brick Chimney Road.
6. Town of Andrews: $6,500,000 for stormwater improvements.
7. Georgetown County Water and Sewer District: $3,899,890 for a Brick Chimney sewer main.
8. Georgetown County: $1,825,925 for airport water and sewer.
9. Georgetown County: $2,437,500 for Petigru North drainage and a multimodal path.
10. City of Georgetown: $3,308,550 for Church Street to Merriman Road stormwater project.
11. City of Georgetown: $2,932,087 for a water project for Oak, Elizabeth and Morrison streets.
12. Georgetown County: $2,800,000 for a new Airport Drive fire and EMS station.
13. Georgetown County: $1,000,000 for an emergency services training facility.
14. Georgetown County: $2,000,000 for Garden City beach groins.
15. Rural Community Water District: $4,819,650 for an elevated water tank.
16. Georgetown County Water and Sewer District: $6,404,750 for a Highway 521 water main.
17. City of Georgetown: $1,369,650 for a Cannon Street stormwater project.
18. Georgetown County: $2,800,000 for a Ringle Heights area fire and EMS station.
19. Georgetown County: $2,409,705 for Petigru South drainage and a multimodal path.