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Charleston County · 2026 Questions 1 and 2 · Passed (unofficial)

Should Charleston County keep its half-cent sales tax for roads, buses and green space for up to 25 more years?

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Charleston County already has a half-cent sales tax for transportation. It runs out next year. This renews it at the same rate for up to 25 years or $4.25 billion, whichever comes first. A second question lets the county borrow up to $300 million against it so projects can start sooner. Your sales tax rate doesn't change.

Both passedUnofficial until certified2
63.91% YesQ1 tax: 108,190 to 61,1022
63.97% YesQ2 bond: 108,002 to 60,8412
182 of 185Precincts counted2

What actually changes

BeforeA half-cent transportation sales tax is already in place. It expires next year.3
AfterThe same half cent continues for up to 25 years or $4.25 billion. $2.702 billion goes to roads, bridges, drainage and bike/pedestrian projects, $858 million to CARTA public transit, and $690 million to the Greenbelt for parks and land conservation, split 50% urban and 50% rural.1
What it changes for youNothing at the register. "It will not increase the rate of sales taxes people pay now."3 The bond (Question 2) lets the county borrow up to $300 million now and repay it from this tax over up to 25 years.1

Some history: voters renewed this tax in 2016 but voted down a 2024 version that would have mainly paid for the Mark Clark Extension.3

What the ballot said

How it was written on your ballot

"I approve a special sales and use tax in the amount of one-half (1/2) of one percent to be imposed in Charleston County for not more than twenty-five (25) years, or until a total of $4,250,000,000 in resulting revenue has been collected, whichever occurs first." (followed by three project categories and a long project list)1

How a normal person would write it

Should Charleston County keep its half-cent sales tax for up to 25 more years to pay for roads, CARTA buses and green space? And can it borrow $300 million of that up front?

Voting Yes = the tax continues after it would have expired. Voting No = it ends when the current tax runs out.

Biggest named road projects

US 17 South widening from Dobbin Road to SC-162, Johnnie Dodds Boulevard at Houston Northcutt, Battery Extension West / Calhoun Street, the Rivers Avenue railroad overpass at Durant Avenue, Long Point Road, Glenn McConnell Parkway at Magwood Road, and Mall Drive. The ballot also says that if a project can't be done, its money can move to any other listed project.1

Read both questions in full ↗

Supporting material

The tug of war

← FOR
THE MIDDLE
AGAINST →
← FORMIDDLEAGAINST →

What supporters said

"We're sitting here on the eve of a legacy. We're talking about something that's going to span 25 years going forward..."

Joe Boykin, Charleston County Council chairman5

"We [at the Charleston Climate Coalition] support this referendum, but do also see the missed opportunity here to build the public transportation system we need."

Charlton Brownell, Charleston Climate Coalition4
County Council, environmental groups · 2 quotes · 47 words

The middle

Both sides agree

  • Passing it keeps your sales tax rate where it is today. It continues an existing tax rather than adding a new one.3
  • Roads get the biggest share: $2.7 billion of $4.25 billion.1, 4

What was actually being decided

  • One question or three? Roads, CARTA ($858 million) and the Greenbelt ($690 million) were bundled into a single yes or no.1, 4
  • Is this the right list? Voters rejected the 2024 version built around the Mark Clark Extension. This one dropped it.3

What each side left out

  • Supporters' project list isn't locked: money from any project that can't be done can move to any other listed project.1
  • The leading "no" argument was against these questions "as they are presented," not against paying for roads at all.4
  • We found no public position from either political party.

What opponents said

"Roads get $2.7 billion of the $4.25 billion."

Fred Palm, Edisto Island, retired professor of oversight and investigations4

"Transit and land preservation deserve their own vote. Voters should say yes to what they want without buying a road list to get it."

Fred Palm4

"it still feels like the roads are broken"

Opponents, as summarized by WCIV, noting the tax has been in place for more than 20 years5
A retired oversight professor, opponents quoted in local news · 3 quotes · 40 words
Tap either side to see it. Same length, same rules.
Who paid for each side
The Post and Courier reported the Yes campaign reached up to 200,000 voters.3 We haven't checked SC Ethics Commission filings for either side yet, so treat this as incomplete.
Think we got this wrong?
Tell us where we leaned. Every fix goes in the public corrections log. Call out our bias →
Sources (checked 11/4/2026)
  1. Charleston County Board of Voter Registration & Elections, 2026 local questions: charlestoncounty.gov/departments/bevr/?r=15
  2. SC Election Commission results, Charleston County, unofficial (182 of 185 precincts, pulled 11/4/2026): enr-scvotes.org/SC/Charleston/127310/
  3. Post and Courier, 11/3/2026: postandcourier.com/politics/charleston-county-election-transportation-sales-tax-infrastructure/article_bbf48652-ee7a-435e-b24c-a1df8a5004b9.html
  4. Charleston City Paper, "No and Yes: Two views," 11/2/2026: charlestoncitypaper.com/2026/11/02/no-and-yes-two-views-on-charleston-countys-2026-ballot-questions/
  5. WCIV ABC News 4, 11/4/2026: abcnews4.com/news/local/charleston-county-transportation-sales-tax-referendum-expected-to-pass-by-historic-margin