Beaufort Co. penny sales tax passes by slim margin to fund $780M in road, safety projects

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - After failing by more than 11,000 votes in 2022, a 1% transportation sales tax was back on the ballot this year in Beaufort County, and this time, voters narrowly approved it by a little over 1,000 votes.The penny tax, which takes effect May 1, is expected to generate approximately $780 million over nine years to fund more than 60 infrastructure and roadway improvements across the county. Officials say the projects are vital as traffic continues to swell on heavily traveled corridors like S.C. Highway 170 and U.S. 278.“I mean the whole purpose of the program was to provide safety and capacity enhancements throughout our community,” Assistant Beaufort County Administrator Jared Fralix said. “These projects are warranted and needed, and we hope that we can get these projects delivered in a fast and effective manner that everybody can enjoy for years to come.”For local workers and commuters navigating congested routes daily, safety concerns outweighed worrie