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AND THE VOTER REGISTRATION BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
RIGHT HERE IT'S GOING YOU THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION IN PREPARATION FOR THE DRAFT I NEED SOME HELP I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN A FILM ISN'T EDUCATIONAL ONLY WE'RE NOT AFRAID FOR YOU TO VOTE YES OR NO. NOBODY'S EVER BEEN PRESENT.WE'RE JUST GETTING THE INFORMATION THE INFORMED VOTER. OKAY, THE QUESTIONS ON THAT AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT APPEARS TO BE ANYTHING JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT IS NOT TO TELL YOU ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. YEAH. AND YOU'LL BE ALLOWED THIS QUESTION AS WE GO ALONG AS YOUR PRESENTATION AND AT THE END OF THAT THERE'LL BE PUBLIC COMMENTARY COME UP AND THEN PUT IN QUESTION ONE IN GERARD RIGHT WE'LL COME BACK TO OKAY BUT
[5. A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING OF A REFERENDUM TO IMPOSE A SPECIAL SALES AND USE TAX IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE PERCENT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR NOT MORE THAN TEN (10) YEARS, OR UNTIL A TOTAL OF $950,000,000 IN RESULTING REVENUE HAS BEEN COLLECTED, WHICH EVER OCCURS FIRST, ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024.]
THAT WILL DO IT FOR GERARD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU BRIAN.MY NAME IS GERARD. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM BUT JUST IN CASE I DON'T KNOW. I'M THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGAIN MISS MARIE WAS IS OUR DIRECTOR SMILES I'M SORRY. EXCUSE ME ME MARIE SMALLS IS DIRECTOR OF VOTER REGISTRATION SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PARTICIPATING UM SO WE'RE GOING TO COVER WHAT'S ON THE SALES TAX AND THINGS FOR YOU TO BE AWARE AS YOU APPROACH THE BALLOT NOVEMBER 5TH FIRST OF ALL, DID ANYBODY DID EVERYBODY GET ONE OF THESE PAMPHLET SAYS YOU CAME IN THE DOOR SO IT'LL BE THE SCREEN IN JUST A MINUTE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT SPECIFICS BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE HAVE THAT.
SO IF IT'S A LITTLE HARD WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT AS WELL. SO SHORT SUMMARY AT THE END OF AFTER YOU GO THROUGH ALL YOUR NATIONAL STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS FOR DIFFERENT POLITICIANS THERE WILL BE A LOCAL QUESTION TO THAT ARE COUNTY COUNCIL PUT ON THERE THEY APPROVED AND THEY WILL BE THESE TWO QUESTIONS. SO THE FIRST QUESTION REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD IS A TEN YEAR UP TO $950 MILLION SALES TAX FOR TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSPORTATION USE SO THIS IS THAT THE TWO THRESHOLDS THE WAY IT READS FROM STATE STATUTE EITHER TEN YEARS OR $950 MILLION SO WHICHEVER ONE COMES FIRST SO THIS $950 MILLION IS COLLECTED IN EIGHT YEARS THEN THE TAX WOULD SUSPEND IT WOULD BE ENDED IF WE GET TO TEN YEARS AND ONLY HAVE COLLECTED $900 MILLION THEN IT WOULD STILL COME OFF.
SO IT'S EITHER OR SO THERE IS A SUNSET SPECIFIED AS PART OF STATUTE REQUIRED.
QUESTION TWO SEEMS A LITTLE COMPLICATED BUT IT'S REALLY NOT THAT COMPLICATED WHAT IT'S BASICALLY SAYING IS ASKING FOR APPROVAL TO $515 MILLION IN BOND ISSUANCE TO FUND PROJECTS THAT ARE REFLECTED ON QUESTION ONE. AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT QUESTION ONE AND THE PROJECT LIST IN JUST A SECOND AND WHAT IS REALLY DOES IS IT ALLOWS COUNTY COUNCIL TO GET STARTED ON THE PROJECTS WHILE THE FUNDS ARE STILL BEING COLLECTED.
SO THIS QUESTION TWO IS IT IS NOT AN ADDITIONAL TAX, IT IS ONLY ASSOCIATED AND PAID FOR BY THE TAX THAT'S COLLECTED IN QUESTION NUMBER ONE. IT'S ALSO I'VE HEARD THIS QUESTION IT IS ALSO NOT WITH PROPERTY TAX. IT IS ONLY APPLICABLE IF QUESTION ONE GETS APPROVED. SO IF QUESTION ONE GETS DISAPPROVED REGARDLESS IF QUESTION TWO WAS APPROVED IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY NOT BE APPLICABLE BECAUSE AGAIN IT ONLY COMES INTO EFFECT IF QUESTION IS IS COLLECTING UP TO $950 MILLION DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I SEE HEAD NODS. SO THE OTHER THING THAT YOU'LL NOTICE QUESTION ONE IS PRETTY SURE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL IN YOUR PAMPHLET BUT IN ESSENCE WHAT IS TALKS ABOUT IS WELL EXCUSE ME IF YOU GET THE BIG SHEET IT'S OUTSIDE ON THE BIG SHEET BUT WE'LL YEAH THIS SHEET THANK YOU SO IT IS REFERENCED HERE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE EXACTLY IS ON PAGE TWO OF THE BIG SHEET IF YOU DIDN'T GET THAT STOP BY OUTSIDE AND GET IT SO IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT $950 MILLION 900 MILLION BEING TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS HIGHWAYS, ROADS, STREETS AND BRIDGES AND THEN 50 MILLION TOWARDS GREEN BELTS.
SO ALL IN ALL THAT'S $950 MILLION. WHAT IT DOESN'T TELL US SPECIFICS OF THOSE. SO YOUR JOB AS AN INFORMED VOTER IS TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT IS GET INFORMED ON WHAT THAT THOSE SPECIFIC PROJECTS ARE BECAUSE THIS IS ALL YOU WILL SEE ON THE BALLOT . AND THEN QUESTION TWO IS PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT I JUST REFERENCED UP THERE THE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE 900 AND THE $50 MILLION IT'S ALL THE SAME TAX $900 MILLION LIKE I SAID IS ROAD PROJECTS.
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$50 MILLION IS ESSENTIALLY CONSERVATION. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A GREEN SPACE SALES TAX AND GREEN IS ALL OF THAT FUNDING. THERE'S NO ROAD PROJECTS IN THAT. IT'S ALL FOCUSED TOWARDS CONSERVATION EFFORTS OR DENSITY REDUCTION EFFORTS. SO THE GREEN BELT THAT'S ALLOWED FOR AND THE PROVISION FOR THIS TRANSPORTATION TAX IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE. THERE'S A FEW NUANCES BUT VERY SIMILAR TO THAT OR WE'RE MORE FAMILIAR WITH RURAL LANDS PROGRAM AND COUNTY SO VERY SIMILAR. ALL RIGHT SO WHAT EXACTLY ARE THOSE LIST OF PROJECTS SO I'M GOING TO GO OVER THEM ON THE SCREEN THEY'RE ALSO INSIDE OF YOUR PAMPHLET IF YOU THEM OUT AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THEM AND IN THE PAMPHLET HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE DEFINITION SO WHEN YOU GO AND VOTE THAT QUESTION THIS IS EXACTLY EVERYTHING THAT THE QUESTION ONE EMBODIES. OKAY SO AGAIN IT WILL NOT READ IT WILL IT WILL ONLY SAY THE SHORT BLURB BUT THIS IS WHAT IT IS. SO LET'S GO OVER THESE PROJECTS AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS WE'LL HAVE TIME AT THE END FOR QUESTIONS ANSWERS AND AND DEFINITELY GET INTO MORE INS AND OUTS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY.SO THE FIRST THREE PROJECTS ARE WHAT WE CONSIDER REGIONAL MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS THE TRIANGLE PROJECT. ANYONE IN THE ROOM.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE TRIANGLE PROJECT ALREADY? A FEW HAD NOT.
OKAY SO THIS IS SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY. THIS IS THE SECTION OF SC 170 FROM 278 UP TO 462 AND TWO SAID EXCUSE ME I SAID TO 70 THE SECTION OF 174 TO 78 FOR 62 TO 78 FROM 170 BACK TO WALMART. SO WHICH IS ARGENT BOULEVARD AND THEN ARGENT BOULEVARD FROM 278 UP TO 170. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT ON THE MAP IT LOOKS LIKE A TRIANGLE.
SO BEHIND THE 278 BRIDGE PROJECT TWO HILTON HEAD THE EXISTING PROJECT THIS IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY PROJECT IN THE ENTIRE REGION NOT JUST COUNTY BUT JASPER COUNTY.
AND I'M GOING TO SKIP TO THE THIRD PROJECT C 46 THIS TWO IS IN THE LOWER PART OF THE OF THE COUNTY IN C 46 IS FROM THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE AT 170 TO THE JASPER COUNTY LINE.
SO IMPROVEMENTS TO THERE AND THEN ALSO IT HAS SOME CONSIDERATIONS FROM THE TRAFFIC BACK TOWARDS BLACKWATER SOME INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH THAT SECTION OF 46.
THE REASON I'M TALKING ABOUT THOSE TOGETHER IS OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTY JASPER COUNTY IS GOING THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THAT WE ARE WITH A SALES TAX ON THEIR BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. AND THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT WE'RE COORDINATING TOGETHER ARE THEY HOPEFULLY REASSURING THING IS WE'RE COORDINATING TOGETHER AND SO THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE ON OUR SALES TAX ARE SHOWING UP ON THEIR TAX.
SO THE TRIANGLE THEY HAVE PROVISIONS FOR FUNDING THEIR SHARE OF THE JASPER COUNTY SECTIONS OF THE TRIANGLE PROJECT ON THEIR SALES TAX AND 46 OUR PROJECT WILL CARRY IT TO THE COUNTY LINE THEIR PROJECT WILL TAKE IT FROM THE COUNTY LINE INWARD ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF INTO COUNTY. ONCE YOU GET INTO JASPER COUNTY THERE'S TWO OR THREE ROADS THAT COME INTO A KIND OF WONKY INTERSECTION THERE AND PART OF THAT PROJECT WILL BE TO CONSOLIDATE THOSE AND MAKE MAKE THAT INTERSECTION MAKE SENSE. BUT AGAIN THOSE PROJECTS ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER BOTH ON BEAUFORT COUNTY AND JASPER COUNTY SALES TAX AS GET NUMBER THE RIBAUT ROAD IMPROVEMENT. SO THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT UP HERE NORTH OF THE BROAD SO OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO BEAUFORT COUNTY THE CITY OF FOUR AND PORT ROYAL HAVE ALL BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON A NEW PLAN FOR ROAD. WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT THAT IS. WE DIDN'T START WITH ANY PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS.
WE BASICALLY TOOK THE THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC AND THE DATA THAT THE WENT OUT THERE AND PUT TOGETHER SOME PLANS WE MADE SOME PRESENTATION AND WE HEARD A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE GOOD THING IS WE HEARD A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS AND WE'RE TAKING THAT COMMENT IN.
ONE THING I WANTED TO JUST GO AHEAD AND STRAIGHT OUT THERE ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS WE HEARD WAS IF YOU IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROJECT WAS A ROAD DIET.
SO THREE LANE SECTION THAT THREE LOAD RAIN THREE LANE ROAD SECTION IS NO LONGER BEING CONSIDERED. OKAY SO I CAN SAY THAT AGAIN THREE LANE ROAD SECTION IS NOT PART OF THAT PROJECT. WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE HOSTING BRIAN CORRECT ME ON THE DATE BUT IN WEEK OR TWO AN UPDATE. SO BASICALLY WE TAKE TAKEN THE COMMENT AND THEN WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ARE COMING BACK WITH THE REBUFFED EFFORT OF WHAT THAT PROJECT IS PLANNED FOR AND WHAT IT SO THE 23RD OCTOBER 23RD THERE'S GOING TO
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BE ADDITIONAL MEETING TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY THE REBA ROAD AT TCL AND IT'S GOING TO SHOW THE COMMENTS THAT THE EDITS THAT THE DESIGN TEAM TO WHAT IS A MORE CLOSE TO A FINAL VERSION I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT'S FINAL WE'LL SEE WHAT KIND OF COMMENTS WE GET BUT THE HOPE IS THAT THE COMMENTS THAT RECEIVE PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT THIS WASN'T PRECONCEIVED IT'S BEEN ADJUSTED THEY HEARD THAT WE DIDN'T WANT THREE LANES OR SPECIFIC ROUNDABOUTS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT SO ALL THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED AT THAT THIRD, 25TH, 25TH.OKAY. THERE WILL DEFINITELY PRESS RELEASE THAT THE COUNTY PUTS OUT AND I'M SURE THE AND TOWN WILL BOTH SHARE IN THAT RELEASE SO WE'LL GET THE INFORMATION TO EVERYBODY AS SPECIFIC MEETING LOCATION AS WELL. SCOTT YOU FOR BEING HERE CITY MANAGER WITH CITY OF BEAUFORT ALL RIGHT SO THAT'S REBA READ THE NEXT THREE ON THE LIST ARE YOU SEE IT SAYS TEST PRODUCE SO WHAT THAT'S SHORT FOR IS TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX THREE SO BEFORE COUNTY WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN THIS SALES TAX WOULD ACTUALLY BE OUR FOURTH SALES TAX SO WE'VE HAD ONE IN 9098 ONE 2006 AND THEN OUR LAST MOST RECENT ONE IN 2018.
SO THERE IT WAS BASICALLY THREE PROJECTS IN THAT SALES TAX THERE WAS THE BRIDGE TO HILTON HEAD, THERE WAS LADY'S ISLAND IMPROVEMENTS AND THEN THERE WAS COUNTY WIDE PATHWAY IMPROVEMENTS. SO THE ONE THING THAT'S HAPPENED BETWEEN 2018 AND NOW THAT IS DRASTICALLY AFFECTED OUR WORLD HAS BEEN COVERED AND OUT OF COVID CAME EXTREMELY HIGH INFLATIONARY PRESSURES SO THOSE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES SEEM TO BE COMING DOWN BUT THEY DRASTICALLY AFFECTED THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS. SO WHAT THIS IS THE COST OF THOSE PROJECTS CONCEIVED IN 2018 HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY AT ANY EXPENSE OF ERROR OR MISCONCEPTION JUST THE ENTIRE WORLD HAS CHANGED SINCE COVID AND FEDERAL HIGHWAY HAS AN INDEX THAT THEY KEEP UP THAT'S CALLED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY COST OF CONSTRUCTION AND IT'S UPDATE IT QUARTERLY AND SINCE OCTOBER OF 2020 THE COST OF HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION HAS OUTPACED EVERY TYPE OF INFLATION INDEX CPI, EPA ALL THESE DIFFERENT INFLATIONARY MEASURES ARE INDEXES TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 70%. SO THE COST OF BUILDING A ROAD FROM FOUR YEARS AGO COST 70% HIGHER TODAY THAN IT DOES FROM 2020.
AND SO WHAT THIS IS WHAT WE DON'T TO DO IS IN 2018 WE PROMISE THIS IS WHAT WE WANT DO WITH THESE ROADS. LADY'S ISLAND THERE'S NINE ROAD PROJECTS OUT THERE.
WE DON'T WANT TO CUT THE SCOPE OF THOSE ROAD PROJECTS JUST TO SAY THAT WE GOT SOMETHING COMPLETE AND THEN AT THE END OF THE ROAD PROJECT AND SATISFIED BECAUSE IT WASN'T WHAT WE FIRST PROMISED IN 2018. SO RATHER THAN DOING THAT WE'RE ASKING IN THIS REFERENDUM COUNTY COUNCIL IS TO HELP US FUND THAT DELTA THAT BOTH WE'RE FACED AND LOCALLY THERE'S A STATEWIDE ISSUE AND NATIONWIDE EVERYBODY'S FACING THE SAME CHALLENGE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THOSE THREE ELEMENTS ARE FOR 278 IS 90 MILLION LADIES ISLAND IS 60 AND THE PATHWAYS ARE 30 ALL TO BRING ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS TO FRUITION THE NEXT GROUP TO THE RIGHT THERE IS MUNICIPAL PROJECTS. SO THE FIRST THREE I TALKED ABOUT OR REGIONAL PROJECTS ARE THOSE ARE IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY SO THE COUNTY IS ADDRESSING THOSE A WHOLE BUT WHAT WE RECOGNIZE AS WE ARE COORDINATING AND PLANNING FOR THIS IS THAT JUST AS THIS THE COUNTY DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAN THE STATE DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE PRIORITIES ARE RIGHT AND OURS ARE WRONG OR VICE VERSA BUT.
SO DOES THE MUNICIPALITIES HAS DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAN THE THE COUNTY AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE COUNTY ON THE ARTERIAL, THE MAIN ROADS, THE MAIN CORRIDORS . BUT THE MUNICIPALITIES MAY WANT TO FOCUS ON A LOCAL OR A DOWNTOWN ROAD OR SOMETHING THAT'S MORE MEANINGFUL TO THEIR SPECIFIC MUNICIPALITY RESIDENTS SO EACH MUNICIPALITY HAS A HAS AN APPROPRIATION HEAD HAS 30, BLUFFTON HAS 30 AND INITIALLY IT WAS FOUR NORTH OF THE BROAD WHICH INCLUDED BLUFFTON PORT ROYAL AND BEAUFORT COUNTY UNINCORPORATED AREAS WHERE IT KIND OF GOES IN BETWEEN IN RELATED AREAS.
BUT WE LATER SPLIT THAT OUT. COUNTY COUNCIL AT THE REQUEST OF THE TOWN SAID LET'S MAKE THAT MORE SPECIFIC SO TEND TO BE FOR IT TEND TO PORT ROYAL AND TEND TO BE FOR COUNTY THEN NEXT IS MASS TRANSIT SO WE HAVE MASS TRANSIT WHEN YOU THINK OF MASS TRANSIT THIS IS THE MOVEMENT OF A MASS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN TOWN SO NOT JUST SINGLE VEHICLES WITH OR TWO
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PEOPLE. SO THIS MOST COMMONLY IN OUR AREA IS OUR SYSTEM AND HOWEVER BUSSES NOT THE ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT WE HAVE LOCALLY WE ALSO IN BEAUFORT COUNTY WE HAVE A FERRY SYSTEM SO IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY FERRY SYSTEMS IN THE ENTIRE STATE, THE ONLY COUNTY OWNED AND OPERATED FERRY SYSTEM IN THE COUNTY IN THE ENTIRE STATE AND THEN LASTLY IS AVIATION. SO WE HAVE COMMERCIAL AIRPORT IN HILTON HEAD SO THESE FUNDS WOULD BE SPLIT BETWEEN THOSE THREE SOURCES PALMETTO BREEZE OUR OUR TRANSIT PARTNER WHO OVERSEES THE BUS SYSTEM BOTH HERE LOCALLY AND IN THE REGION WHAT THIS FUNDING WOULD FIRST DO IS TO HELP SHORE UP THEIR OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE FUNDING RIGHT NOW THAT IS MADE UP FROM ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES AND JURISDICTION INS TO HELP FUND THEIR OPERATIONS. THIS WOULD GIVE THEM THE LIFEBLOOD THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PLAN PROPERLY AND BUILD THAT SYSTEM OUT TO WHAT WE ARE HOPE THAT IT CAN GROW INTO. BUT THEN THE REMAINING THE FUNDS WOULD BE CAPITAL PROJECTS WITH THOSE THREE VERY BUS OR AVIATION SAFETY AND TRAFFIC FLOWS THESE NEXT GROUPS SO THESE ARE NOT SPECIFIC PROJECTS BUT WE CALL THEM PROGRAMS AND THE POINT OF THIS IS WE HAVE A LONG TERM PROGRAM WE'VE LONGER THAN ANY OTHER PROGRAM THAT WE'VE HAD SO WE'VE HAD A TWO YEAR, FOUR YEAR AND A SIX YEAR PROGRAM. THIS IS A TEN YEAR PROPOSED PROGRAM AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE WHAT COUNTY COUNCIL ARE PROPOSING IS THAT WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHICH ROAD IS GOING TO HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT NEED.WE JUST KNOW WE'RE A GROWING COMMUNITY AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE PRESSURES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SO THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAMS IS TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY AND THAT WILL COME WITH SOME CRITERIA AND INDEX ON HOW THESE SPECIFIC PROJECTS ARE SELECTED.
BUT THESE ARE SMALLER PROJECTS NOT THE SAME TRIANGLE OR REBA ROADS AS PROJECTS BUT FOR AND TRAFFIC FLOW THIS WOULD BE LIKE AN INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT A NEW SIGNAL TURN LANE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND SO AGAIN WE DON'T KNOW WHICH TURN LANE IS GOING TO BE NEEDED IN FIVE YEARS BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME DEVELOPMENT THAT AFTER THE FACT WE SAID OKAY WELL THIS IS BUSIER THAN WE ANTICIPATED THIS NEEDS SOME SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT EMERGENCY EVACUATION AND RESILIENCY.
SO 55 MILLION TOWARDS THIS IS SOMETHING UNIQUE BE FOR COUNTY AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES SO WE HAVE SEVERAL ROADS IN THE AREA THAT FLOOD DURING DRY DAYS SO EXTREMELY HIGH TIDE A KING TIDE WE HAVE A LOT OF ROADS THAT CONNECT TO ISLANDS THAT HAVE A GROUP OF RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE AND DURING THAT HIGH TIDE EVENT THEY'RE STUCK ON THAT ISLAND FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND SO OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT WHERE WE CAN EITHER RAISE THE ROAD OR MAKE SOME ENHANCEMENTS WHERE PEOPLE ACCESS CONTINUOUS ACCESS NO MATTER THE WEATHER AS .
WELL AS OUR EVACUATION DROUGHT WE JUST HAD HELENE AND DEBBY THANKFULLY WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR EVACUATION REQUIREMENTS AND WE WERE SPARED WITH SOME OF THE DAMAGES SOME OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND STATES OBVIOUSLY HAVE A LOT MORE DAMAGE IN OUR HEARTS OUT TO THEM. BUT IT REITERATES THE NEED THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AND PRIORITIZE THAT OUR EVACUATION ROUTES ARE ARE SECURE AND AVAILABLE SO WHEN WE NEED THEM WE CAN ACTUALLY USE THEM FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE PAVEMENT PRESERVATION AND PRESERVATION PAVEMENT RESURFACING AND PRESERVATION. SO THIS BUCKET IS OUR GOAL PEOPLE DON'T CARE WHETHER YOU'RE DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD, A COUNTY ROAD, A LOCAL ROAD, A MUNICIPALITY ROAD THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO HIT POTHOLES. RIGHT.
I KNOW THAT'S ME. I MEAN I JUST MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW AT THE TIME YOU'RE DRIVING WHAT ROAD YOU ARE. I JUST KNOW THAT I'M ON 170 AND I HIT A POTHOLE.
WELL, OUR GOAL WITH THIS PART OF FUNDING IS TO TO BRING UP THE QUALITY OF ALL THE ROADS IN COUNTY. AND AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE POTHOLE IS GOING TO BE IN SIX YEARS. WE JUST KNOW THERE WILL BE A POTHOLE AND WE WANT TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT VERSUS WHERE WE WE SAID WE WERE ONLY DOING THIS PROJECT. SO EVEN THOUGH WE GOT A POTHOLE WE CAN'T FIX THAT FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS UNTIL WE HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM. SO THAT'S THE INTENT THERE DIRT ROAD PAVING SO THE COUNTY OWNS A LOT OF COUNTY OWNED DIRT ROADS AND THERE'S A FEW MUNICIPALITY OWNED DIRT ROADS SO THIS IS PAVING OF PUBLICLY OWNED ROADS SO NOT PRIVATE ROADS OR PRIVATE DRIVEWAYS. WE THIS IS A PUBLIC TAX AND BY STATUTE IT CAN ONLY BE EXPENDED ON PUBLICLY OWNED ASSETS. SO THE COUNTY ALREADY CURRENTLY HAS A DIRT ROAD PAVING PROGRAM.
WE HAVE SOME FUNDING THAT SET YEARLY FOR THAT PROGRAM BUT WE IT'S A IT'S FOR THE AMOUNT OF ROADS THAT WE IT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF OF ROADS PAID YEARLY AGAIN COST OF CONSTRUCTION
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CONTINUALLY RISES SO THIS WOULD HELP US ACHIEVE GETTING SOME POINTS AND GASOLINE ON THE FIRE ACTUALLY GET SOME OF THESE ROADS IMPROVE FASTER PATHWAYS THIS IS $20 MILLION ADDITIONAL FOR PATHWAY SO THE COUNTY HAS A PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE MASTER PLAN WHICH OUTLINES THE PRIORITY OF PATHWAYS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THE INTENT IS TO START IMPLEMENTING THAT PLAN WITH THIS FUNDING SOURCE. SO THIS WOULD NOT BE MIXED WITH THE OTHER 24 PATHWAYS.THE 30 MILLION IS SET FOR THOSE 24 PATHWAYS TO MAKE SURE WHAT WAS PROMISED IN 2018 IS COMPLETED. THIS WOULD BE FOR ADDITIONAL BEYOND THE 2018 SO THERE'S ALREADY 30 MILLION CARVED OUT AHEAD OF TIME THAT ALREADY DESCRIBED THIS WOULD BE ADDITIONAL. AND THEN LASTLY IS GREEN BELLS .
SO AGAIN THIS IS A PROVISION THAT'S SPECIAL DETERRENCE SALES TAX AND IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO RURAL CRITICAL OR GREEN SPACE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE GREEN SPACE SALES TAX IT ROLLS OFF.
IT WAS A TWO YEAR $100 MILLION SALES TAX. IT GOT APPROVED IN 2020.
IT ROLLS OFF ON DECEMBER 31ST. SO IF THIS TAX WAS APPROVED THIS TRACKS WOULD NOT START UNTIL MAY 1ST OF NEXT YEAR. SO THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHT GAP RIGHT NOW WE 7% SALES TAX THE STATE SALES TAX IS 6% SO WE HAVE THAT ONE PENNY FOR GREEN SPACE EXTRA AND FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IF THIS IS APPROVED IT WOULD ROLL BACK DOWN TO SIX AND THEN ESSENTIALLY BE REPLACED TO WHAT WE'RE PAYING TODAY. BUT INSTEAD OF GREEN SPACE IT WOULD BE TRANSPORTATION BUT THE CONSERVATION IS THAT IS WAS VOTED ON APPROVED WOULD BE EXTENDED THROUGH THIS GREEN BELT ELEMENT. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE INTENT THIS COUNTY COUNCIL AGAIN THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A PRIORITY HENCE THE REASON THEY IMPLEMENTED THE GREEN SPACE AND WE'VE BEEN 20 YEARS DEEP INTO THE ROOM CRITICAL PROGRAM SO THE GREEN BELTS ALLOWS FOR THAT CONSERVATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO CONTINUE SO A FEW I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE BUT JUST A FEW COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD WE'VE BEEN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY SEVERAL PLACES BOTH EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND EVEN MORE SO RECENTLY AND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE HEARD I'M THROWING UP HERE BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THEM I CAN GO AHEAD AND KNOCK THEM OUT BEFORE ANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK US IF IF I DON'T ANSWER YOU CAN ASK IT AGAIN BY ALL MEANS BUT WHERE IS THE 2018 PROJECTS AND IS THIS TAX DOUBLE DIP LIKE YOU ALREADY HAVE MONEY FOR THOSE PROJECTS, RIGHT? WELL THE ANSWER IS YES THAT MONEY IS THERE IS STILL EXIST SO THE MONEY THAT WAS APPROPRIATED FOR EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS THERE WAS 80 MILLION TO THE BRIDGE AND 30 MILLION TO LADIES ISLAND AND 10 MILLION TO THE PATHWAYS THAT'S STILL THERE.
WHAT THIS TAX IS DOING AND WHAT I'VE SAID BEFORE IS THOSE PROJECTS NOW COST MORE THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED BECAUSE OF THE HYPERINFLATION AFTER COVID AND SO WE'RE NOT DOUBLE DIPPING. WE'RE MAKING THOSE PROJECTS WHOLE.
THEY'RE UNDERFUNDED. THAT'S THE PURPOSE. SO OUT OF THE $120 MILLION AND WE HAVE THIS INFORMATION THE WEBSITE WE'LL SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT HERE IN A SECOND VIDEO.
BUT THE COUNTY HAS A WEBSITE THAT, HAS ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FUTURE SALES TAX AS WELL EXISTING 2018 AND PREVIOUS SALES TAXES AND IT HAS ALL THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE GET WELL HOW MUCH HAS BEEN EXPENDED THE 2018 SALES TAX IT ACTUALLY OVER COLLECTED LITTLE BIT IT ONLY SHUTS OFF ON THE QUARTER SO IF YOU'RE RIGHT THERE AT THE LIMIT AND THEN GET IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS INTO THE QUARTER WE'LL COLLECT FOR THAT ENTIRE QUARTER . SO WE ENDED IN 2018 IT WAS $120 MILLION OR FOUR YEARS.
IT ACTUALLY ENDED UP COLLECTING ABOUT $145 MILLION IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS BY THE TIME IT CUT OFF IN THE QUARTER OUT OF THAT APPROXIMATELY MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN EXPENDED.
MOST OF THAT IS ON AND DESIGN. THE BULK OF IT IS CONSTRUCTION .
SO WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED A FEW OF THOSE HAVE MADE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO CONSTRUCTION AND SO AS PROJECTS THERE A LOT OF THEM ARE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION PHASE SO AS THOSE COME TO CONSTRUCTION THAT NUMBER WILL WILL START JUMPING UP FASTER AND ONCE 278 BRIDGE STARTS CONSTRUCTION OBVIOUSLY THAT IT'LL REALLY UP THAT FROM 2018 SO LIKE I SAID ALL THAT INFORMATION THERE IF YOU WANT TO RESEARCH AND FIND IT'S ON THE WEBSITE AND YOU CAN TOOL AROUND A LOOK SO WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT DOUBLE DIPPING NOT MUCH IS COMPLETE WHERE ONE
[00:25:03]
OF THE REASONS WE HAVE 24 PATHWAYS WHICH SEEM LIKE EASY YOU GOT A BRIDGE OKAY THAT MAKES SENSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A HARDER PROJECT TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER BUT YOU'VE GOT THE BRIDGE YOU'VE GOT THESE PATHWAYS AND WHY AREN'T ANY OF THE PROJECTS OLD LADIES OUT? WELL SPECIFICALLY TO THE PATHWAYS SEEMS GREAT. EVERYBODY IN COUNTY ENJOYS WALKING ON TRAILS ON SPANISH MOSS TRAIL. EVERYBODY THE RECREATION ASPECT UNTIL IT'S IN YOUR YARD. SO THEN PEOPLE DON'T LOVE IT QUITE AS MUCH WHEN THEY'RE HAVING PEOPLE WALK THEIR FRONT YARD OR WHAT USED TO BE THEIR FRONT YARD.MOST OF THE PATHWAYS HAVE ABOUT TEN PARCELS AT LEAST. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT TEN TIMES 24 THAT IN ITSELF IS 240 PARCELS AND EACH PARCEL WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO IS TO REACH OUT TO THE LANDOWNER, APPRAISE VALUE FIRST, DESIGN IT AND SAY OKAY WE NEED TO ACQUIRE TEN FEET TO MAKE THIS PATHWAY PROJECT POSSIBLE TEN FEET TIMES 100 FEET AROUND YOUR PARCEL IS . THIS IS WHAT THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THAT ACQUISITION WOULD BE. FROM THERE THEY CAN SAY YES NO ,LET ME GET MY APPRAISAL AND IT'S A BACK AND FORTH AND THEN IF WE CAN'T AGREE THEN WE HAVE TO GO TO THE NEXT STEP AND CONTINUE DOWN SO DO THAT TIMES 240. SO IT JUST TAKES A REALLY LONG AND THEN A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS ALSO WE'RE A LOW LYING AREA. WE HAVE TIDAL INFLUENCE AND MARSHES. A LOT OF THEM RUN INTO WETLANDS AND ANY TIME YOU RUN INTO A WETLAND THE OF PERMITTING JUST IT DRASTICALLY INCREASES AND TAKES A LONG TIME SO THOSE ARE THE TWO FACTORS THAT REALLY SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS SPECIFICALLY HERE IN COUNTY AS COMPARED TO MAYBE OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE SIDEWALK PROJECTS. SO THEY ARE ALL UNDER DESIGN SOME OF THEM ARE COMPLETED MOST OF THEM ARE IN THAT RIGHT AWAY PHASE AND SO AS THEY GET THROUGH IF WE ONLY HAVE EIGHT OUT OF TEN COMPLETE, WE CAN'T. SO WE GOT TO GET TEN OUT OF TEN ON EACH PATHWAY IN HAND BEFORE WE CAN START SO AS EACH PROJECT GETS COMPLETED SO WE DON'T HAVE DEFINITIVE TIME THEY WILL BE COMPLETED BY X DATE BUT AS THEY ARE THEY ARE COMING OUT TO CONSTRUCTION HOW DOES THIS BENEFITS INHALER OUT I DON'T IS ANYBODY HERE FROM SAINT HELENA OKAY I'LL PASS ON THAT. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE REFERENDUM DOESN'T PASS? WE'VE HAD THIS QUESTION A THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN AND DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL BUT I CAN GIVE YOU SOME ON WHAT COULD HAPPEN. THE FIRST THING IS NOTHING SO IF THIS DOESN'T PASS THE PATH THE CHOICE LEAST RESISTANCE IS THERE ARE NO FUNDS TO KNOW TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN THE AREA. ANOTHER OPTION IS OR LET ME GO THROUGH THE OPTIONS AND THEN I'LL BACK UP TO DO ANOTHER OPTION IF COUNTY COUNCIL SEARCHES WOULD BE FUND SOME OF THE PROJECTS THROUGH PROPERTY TAX RAISING MILLAGE MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE TO RAISE MILLAGE THEY THEY DO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY HAVE IN THE CURRENT BUDGET AND OR HOW BIG THE PROJECT IS WHETHER THERE WOULD BE MILLAGE INCREASE OR PROPERTY TAX BUT PROPERTY TAX IS ANOTHER THAT COUNTY COUNCIL HAS AS A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX AND THEN LASTLY IS IF THEY WERE COUNTY COUNCIL WANTED TO HIT PAUSE BUTTON FOR NOW AND THEN COME BACK IN ANOTHER TWO YEARS SO TRANSPORTATION YOU CAN ONLY PUT IT ON GENERAL ELECTION SO EVERY TWO YEARS SO IF COUNTY COUNCIL WANTED TO THEY COULD BRING THIS BACK UP IN TWO YEARS AND ASK FOR THE VOTERS TO GIVE ANOTHER VOTE ON IT. SO THOSE ARE THREE POSSIBLE SCENARIOS DON'T KNOW WHICH OR ANY OF THOSE WOULD BE UTILIZED BUT THOSE THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT MY ONE QUESTION WE GET A LOT WHY DON'T DO WE EVEN HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WHAT I CAN'T DO WHAT DO THE ROADS AND D.O.T.
COULD DO THE ROADS MOST OF THE ROADS IN THE COUNTY ARE D.O.T. OWNED ROADS THE ISSUE IS JUST AS IT'S COUNTY ISSUE IS THEY HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND.
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THEIR PRIORITIES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OUR PRIORITIES MAKE THEM RIGHT OR WRONG. THEY JUST HAVE A FOCUSED PRIORITY.
THEY HAVE MAIN PRIORITIES AND THEY HAVE TWO AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A LOT UNTIL YOU THINK ABOUT HOW ROADS THEY HAVE THEY HAVE OVER 40,000 MILES OF ROADS IN THE STATE SO ONCE YOU START THINKING ABOUT THAT AND HOW MUCH IT COST TO BUILD THINGS IT DOESN'T AS FAR AS YOU THINK. THEREFORE PRIORITIES ARE INTERSTATE WIDENING BRIDGE
[00:30:04]
PROJECTS, SAFETY AND RESURFACING SO RIGHT AWAY BE FOR COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE ANY INTERSTATES IN COUNTY SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY THAT FUNDING THERE PRIORITIZE AFFECTS BRIDGES OUR BRIDGES OTHER THAN THE BRIDGES TO HILTON HEAD WHICH ARE ALREADY PROGRAMED ARE IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION THEY'RE IN PRETTY DECENT COMPARED TO OTHER BRIDGES ACROSS THE STATE. SO WE'RE REALLY NOT GETTING OUT OF THAT BUCKET EITHER.SO THE ONLY BUCKET OUT OF THAT IS TWO AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS IS SAFETY PROJECTS ARE TYPICALLY SMALLER AND RESURFACING WHICH AGAIN IS NOT THE SAME LEVEL OF INVESTMENT AS INTERSTATES BRIDGES. SO WHERE D.O.T. SITS ON THIS IS THEY KNOW THIS IS A TOOL THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE AND SO THEY'RE ALLOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IF THEY WANT TO SEE PROJECTS BEYOND THEIR PRIORITIES ON THEIR SYSTEM, THEY'RE ALLOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO USE LOCAL RESOURCES. SO IF THERE'S A CAPACITY PROJECT OR A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT'S MORE SPECIFIC TO US THAN THE REST OF THE STATE.
THEY'RE DEPENDENT ON LOCAL RESOURCES TO HELP MEET THAT NEED.
OUR PORT ROYAL HAVE ALREADY HIT THAT QUESTION NO ONE WANTS THREE THREE LANE ROUNDABOUT I'VE HEARD THAT STATEMENT VERY MANY TIMES AND WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT PROJECT? AS I MENTIONED OCTOBER FIFTH THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON WHAT THE END PRODUCT BE. HERE'S THE SHORT STORY ON REBAR ROAD NO MATTER THE TERM THE THE LONG TERM PLAN IS WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE A FUNDING REQUIREMENT TO IMPLEMENT THAT PLAN. SO THE GOAL IS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE MEET WITH THE PUBLIC AND FINALIZE WHAT THAT PLAN LOOKS LIKE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WILL BE A NEED IF WE'D LIKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS ON ON THIS OUT HERE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE $75 MILLION PLUGGED IN THERE WHILE THE PLAN IS FINALIZED DEVELOPED WHAT ARE THE MUNICIPAL PROJECTS ? SO REALLY IT'S ANY PROJECT THAT FITS LINE WITH THE STATE STATUTE. SO THE STATE STATUTE BASICALLY SAYS ROADS, BRIDGES, HIGHWAYS, DRAINAGE, MASS TRANSIT SO ANYTHING THAT FITS THOSE PRIORITIES THE ONLY CAVEATS IN THAT THAT ARE MORE SOUTH OF THE BROAD THAN NORTH OF BROAD IS IS COUNTY COUNCIL FOUR HILTON HEAD SAID OUT HILTON HEAD YOU'RE $30 MILLION YOU NEED TO ADDRESS EPA AND CIRCLE THAT IS SOMETHING WE HEARD AS COUNTY COUNCIL WENT AROUND AND WE WERE HALFWAY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND GIVE ME FEEDBACK INPUT SO THEY MADE THAT STIPULATION AND THEN IN THE TOWN IN THAT REGION THE INPUT THAT WAS RECEIVED WAS NO BLUFFTON PARKWAY FIVE B SO THEY MADE THAT SPECIFIC TO THAT SO BLUFFTON CAN DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT WANT TO THAT'S WITHIN THE STATUTE ASSET BUILD THAT SECTION OF THE NEW ROAD AS FAR AS THE CITY OF BEAUFORT OR PORT ROYAL ANY ANY PROJECT MEETS THAT STATUTE THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO WHETHER THAT'S A DOWNTOWN LOCAL ROAD PORT ROYAL HAS A SPAN ROAD THEIR DOWNTOWN CITY CENTER THAT'S SOMETHING I KNOW SCOTT'S HERE WITH THE CITY I'M SURE THEY HAVE A OF PROJECTS AND PROBABLY HAVE DISCUSSED IT AT CITY SOME OF THE PRIORITIES AND IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT MAYBE SCOTT CAN ANSWER THAT LATER SO REALLY THE WORLD IS OPEN. THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC PROJECT AND THEY'LL GO THROUGH COORDINATE WITH THEIR COUNCILS WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES AND NEEDS ARE AND WHAT HAPPENS THE REFERENDUM DOESN'T PASS ANSWER THAT WILL THE SIDEWALKS BE FINISHED. THEY'RE REPAVING RURAL AREAS REFERENDUM.
ALL RIGHT SO LIKE I SAID I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THIS BEFORE BUT WE A COUNTY WEBSITE BEFORE A COUNTY PENNY DOT COM WHERE THERE'S A OF INFORMATION AND YOU CAN CLICK ON IT THERE WITH THE BARCODE OR IT'S IN YOUR TRAVEL PAMPHLET IT'S THE SAME PLACE AND I WANT TO JUST GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW. YOU GOT A VIDEO THAT KIND WALK YOU THROUGH AND SHOW YOU SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S ON THAT WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN GO AND LIKE I SAID EXPLORE A LITTLE BIT MORE AT YOUR LEISURE. SO BRIAN COUNTY RESIDENT AS YOU PREPARE TO CAST YOUR BALLOT IT'S CRUCIAL TO BE INFORMED ABOUT THE UPCOMING REFERENDUM VISIT COUNTY PENICUIK TO ACCESS VALUABLE RESOURCES WILL HELP YOU MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION REVIEW THE BALLOT QUESTIONS TAKE THE TIME TO READ THROUGH THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT WILL APPEAR ON YOUR BALLOT. UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS BEING
[00:35:03]
PROPOSED IS THE FIRST STEP IN PARTICIPATING IN OUR DEMOCRACY. EXPLORE THE TIMELINE SCROLL THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE TIMELINE HOW THE REFERENDUM ORIGINATED.THIS WILL GIVE YOU INSIGHT THE PLANNING AND DISCUSSIONS THAT LED TO THIS PIVOTAL MOMENT DOVE INTO THE PROJECT WITH FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH DETAILED PROJECT LISTS WHICH INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS HIGHWAY 78, LADIES ISLAND SC 46 AND RAINBOW ROAD TO NAME A FEW. KNOWING WHERE FUNDS WILL BE ALLOCATED IS ESSENTIAL FOR UNDERSTANDING POTENTIAL IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY IF.
THE REFERENDUM IS APPROVED. A CITIZENS LED OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WILL BE FORMED.
THIS VOLUNTEER GROUP WHICH WILL REPRESENT BOTH MUNICIPALITIES AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF COUNTY, WILL OVERSEE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REFERENDUM PROJECT, ENSURING AND ACCOUNTABILITY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE MAKE SURE YOUR EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUTURE OF COUNTY.
VISIT COUNTY PENNLIVE.COM TODAY TO GET INFORMED AND ENGAGED BEFORE NOVEMBER 5TH.
ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'S REALLY ALL THE INFORMATION I WANT TO MAKE SURE WAS INFORMED AND ARMED THAT YOU FEEL FULLY EDUCATED AND WITH THAT REALLY JUST OPENED UP THE QUESTIONS SO THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING I KNOW WE'RE KIND OF A SMALL AUDIENCE HERE IF YOU COULD IF YOU DO HAVE A QUESTION IF YOU COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND INTRODUCE AND THEN I'LL BE UP HERE AND BRYAN ATTORNEY AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS MARIE ARE EVEN OUR COUNTY MANAGER OR POSSIBLY A CITY QUESTION WE WILL TRY TO ANSWER AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND DON'T BE BASHFUL. YOU KNOW, TALK AND PUT THIS UP. GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU, MISS MILES AND GENTLEMEN FOR PUTTING SPEND YOUR TIME.
YOU KNOW, GETTING CLOSE TO DINNERTIME PEOPLE BEING HUNGRY. HOW MANY QUESTIONS DO WE GET? HOW MANY WON'T? THIS IS NOT A TRADITIONAL IF YOU DON'T HAVE 3 MINUTES.
YEAH, THE FIRST ONE WAS IN YOUR INFORMATION PACKET PACKET SO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT BOTH AND FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS IF YOU DO GET THOSE FUNDS IS THAT ON TOP OF YOUR 950 MILLION OR IS THAT GOING TO POUR INTO THE 950 MILLION POT IT WOULD BE ON TOP OF SO THE TRIANGLE IS A REALLY GOOD PROJECT IF WE CAN GET IT WOULD BE ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.
SO BECAUSE I TOTALED UP ALL THE MONEY AND I PROJECTS NOW EQUAL TO 950 MILLION SO THAT'S EXTRA MONEY. I ASSUME THERE'S A PLAN FOR EXTRA MONEY.
YES. SO A GOOD EXAMPLE IS ON TO 78 THE BRIDGE PROJECT FROM 2018 THERE WAS AN ALLOCATION FOR $80 MILLION AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THAT $80 MILLION AND GET 40 MILLION FROM DOD AND THEN $120 MILLION FROM THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK.
SO WE MADE IT FROM 80 TO 240 AND THEN SINCE THEN WE'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL FUND NOW WE'VE GOT A DELTA FROM FROM THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES SO THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE COMING BACK BUT YEAH THAT'S THAT'S HOW WE WOULD BE USED. QUESTION QUICK WAS THE SUM OF THE AREAS THAT WEREN'T GOING TO BE TAXED INCLUDED RENT, MORTGAGES AND FUEL BUT YET YOU TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS TAX IS BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH HERE AND THE GROWTH IS PEOPLE MOVING HERE TO PAY RENT AND MORTGAGES AND IT'S 90% OF TRANSPORTATION WHICH IS PEOPLE WHO DRIVE IN BURN FUEL. SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHY THOSE AREAS AREN'T BEING TAXED TO FUND THIS. WELL, THAT'S KIND OF THE DRIVING, YOU KNOW.
I KNOW THAT ABSOLUTELY. PEOPLE MOVE IN HERE, RIGHT? THERE'S THE NEED FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. WELL, SO THE REASON IS IS IS THE PARAMETERS OF THE TAX ARE SET IN THE STATE STATUTE. SO IT ONLY SAYS THAT THIS IS WHAT IT CAN BE TAXED ON AND ESSENTIALLY IS RETAIL SALES. SO IF YOU GO OUT TO EAT OR GO SHOP AT WALMART OR HOBBY LOBBY, THOSE ARE THE ITEMS WHERE YOU'LL BE TAXED SO YOUR RENT OBVIOUSLY THAT WHETHER IT'S RENT OR MORTGAGE IS IS THAT AND THEN GAS HAS ITS OWN GAS TAX ULTIMATELY WHICH IS OTHER STATUTES THAT CONSTRAIN WHERE YOU COULD APPLY? THAT'S CORRECT.
YES. I'VE SAID GREAT GREAT QUESTIONS LIKE WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A TAX THAT THE STATE ALLOWS US TO IMPLEMENT TO ALL VEHICLES REQUIRED FOR THE OTHER TAXES BECAUSE THOSE DON'T MEET YOUR NEEDS. SO THIS IS JUST SOMETHING YEAH ,THAT'S GREAT QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. SURELY WE'VE GOT MORE QUESTIONS THAN THAT. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SHORTEST YET YOU CAN YES.
COME ON QUESTION. MY NAME IS MICHAEL. SO HOW ARE THESE SELECTED? WHAT WAS THE PROCESS? YEAH, YEAH, GREAT QUESTION. SO THIS IS NOT AND IF YOU GO THE WEBSITE IT'LL IT'LL GIVE YOU SOME HISTORY BUT ACTUALLY THE HISTORY STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO SO IN 2022 COUNTY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OUR
[00:40:07]
CITIZENS SALES TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE EXCUSE ME AND IT WAS A 17 MEMBER COMMITTEE SO IT HAD REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT 11 DISTRICTS AND ONE FROM EACH MUNICIPALITY INCLUDING GMC AND HARTSVILLE SIX MUNICIPALITIES. THEY SPENT ABOUT FIVE MONTHS MEETING WEEKLY TO SAY WHAT DO WE NEED FOR OUR COUNTY? AND THEY CAME UP WITH A LIST ROAD PROJECTS. THAT'S WHERE THE LIST ORIGINATED FROM THEN FROM THERE THEY MADE A PRESENTATION IN MAY OF 2020 TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER GREENSBURG HAD JUST BEEN PINNED AND AUTHORIZED AT THE STATE LEVEL SO COUNTY COUNCIL DO WE WANT TO DO GREENSPACE OR ROADS AND THEY OPTED A GREEN SPACE BUT SAID NO FOR NOW BUT NOT EVERYONE ROADS AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO ROADS SO THEN FAST AND THIS IS WHERE THE WEBSITE PICKS UP THEY ESTABLISH COUNTY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED ANOTHER SALES TAX COMMITTEE CITIZEN COMMITTEE JULY OF 2023 . THIS ONE WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. IT WAS ONLY SIX MEMBERS BUT THEY BASICALLY TOOK THAT ROAD LIST FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND BROUGHT IT FORWARD AND UPDATED IT FOR KNOWN PROJECTS AND THEN THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL SO THEY CAME FROM CITIZENS JUST LIKE EVERYONE HERE IN THE SEATS OF WATTS OF NEED THERE WAS ALSO COUNTY STAFF ENGINEERING AND STAFF HELPED ASSIST THAT DISCUSSIONS AS THEY WERE TALKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS BUT THAT'S WHERE CAME FROM. YEP, GREAT QUESTION. WELL DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY? WELL YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE IN TURN THAT SHOULD BE GOOD.I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS WE ALL ROLE IN THE PROCESS. IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT THE QUESTION IS ON THE BALLOT AND YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY VOTER REGISTRATION ELECTION QUESTION THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR. SO IF YOU HAVE I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM FOR YOU AND.
WHEN IS THERE EARLY ELECTION STUFF? OKAY.
ABOUT EARLY VOTING STARTS EARLY VOTING? YEAH.
EARLY VOTING STARTS ON MONDAY, OCTOBER THE 21ST AND WE WILL HAVE FOUR EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS IN COUNTY, ONE ON SOME HELENA AT THE LIBRARY, ONE AT THE OFFICE AND BEAUFORT WHICH IS AT 15 JOHN GALT ROAD. THE OTHER IS IN BLUFFTON AT THE BLUFFTON RECREATION CENTER IN THE GYMNASIUM AND ON HILTON HEAD AT USC B HILTON HEAD WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM WHERE WE WERE BEFORE AND IT'S A LARGER FACILITY WHICH WILL ACCOMMODATE MORE PEOPLE SO IF YOU ARE LIVING IN ANY ONE OF THOSE AREAS OR IF YOU IN THOSE AREAS WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND YOU WANT TO CAST YOUR BALLOT EARLY YOU CAN USE EITHER OF THOSE LOCATIONS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ELECTION DAY ON ELECTION DAY YOU WILL HAVE TO GO TO YOUR ASSIGNED. SO DOING EARLY VOTING WE ARE OPEN EIGHT OR 6:00 IN THE EVENING MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD LET PEOPLE KNOW THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT MORE OFTEN THEY WOULD THAN THEY WOULD JUST ON ELECTION PERFECT.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH. MY NAME'S LILA AND I LIVE IN SHANKLIN AND THEY DID A LOT OF SURVEYING SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO PUT SIDEWALK SO I GUESS THEY'RE PROBABLY IN THE PROCESS TALKING TO ALL THOSE HOMEOWNERS.
YES, VERY MUCH SO. IS THAT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? VERY MUCH SO.
SO IT IS THERE'S BEEN PRELIMINARY DESIGN ON EACH PROJECT WE WE COUNTY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS AT A MINIMUM.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO SAY HEY, WE'RE COMING TO YOU WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A PLAN OTHER THAT WE'RE PUTTING A PATHWAY AND THE NEXT ONE IS TYPICALLY FURTHER ALONG KIND OF 50 OR 60% IN DESIGN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN THE THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND SO WE'VE HOSTED THOSE AND WE ARE IN THAT RIGHT AWAY AND PERMITTING PHASE. SO HERE IS GOING TO BE ON THE LEFT SIDE NOT ON THE STREET. BRIAN BOWER ARE OUR ENGINEERING DIRECTORS HERE D I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC BRANDING I DOUBT WE CAN GET IF YOU LEAVE, ME, ME OR BRIAN YOUR INFORMATION WE CAN GIVE YOU THE SPECIFICS ALSO IF YOU GO ON THE WEBSITE IS THERE AS WELL TO WHAT WE
[00:45:05]
CLICKED ON LISTED 2024 BUT THERE'S INFORMATION ON 2018 SO EITHER WAY IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THAT WAY OR NOT WE CAN LET YOU KNOW MORE SPECIFICALLY YEAH .ALL RIGHT. WELL THINK THEN WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING AND SPENDING A LITTLE OF YOUR EVENING WITH US. AND AGAIN, BRIAN, JUST TO REITERATE, THIS IS JUST EDUCATIONAL AND FACTUAL INFORMATION WITH NO INTENT TO EDUCATE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER PERSUADING TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST REFERENDUM. THAT'S YOUR OWN PERSONAL DECISION. WE WANT GET INFORMATION. BRIAN'S OUR ATTORNEY YOU IF I DIDN'T INTRODUCE HIM ALREADY
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.