Columbus County Local Sales and Use Tax Referendum

What it does

Local sales and use tax at the rate of one-quarter percent (0.25%) in addition to all other State and local sales and use taxes.

A YES vote means

Columbus County would levy a local sales and use tax of one-quarter percent (0.25%), in addition to all other state and local sales and use taxes.

A NO vote means

Columbus County would not levy the additional 0.25% local sales and use tax.

What it would cost

0.25% sales tax: $0.25 on a $100 taxable purchase.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

On April 20, 2026 the Columbus County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution designating how proceeds of the proposed quarter-cent sales tax on the November 3, 2026 ballot would be used, according to the meeting minutes.

The resolution gives priority to capital improvements, including school facility restoration, for Columbus County Schools, Whiteville City Schools and Southeastern Community College; Emergency Medical Services; and Parks and Recreation, while the board keeps authority to allocate proceeds as needed for the county's financial stability.

According to the General Assembly's Fiscal Research Division, proceeds of this optional quarter-cent (Article 46) county sales tax may be spent on any public purpose and are not shared with cities; the resolution states the board's intended priorities.

Put on the ballot by Columbus County Board of Commissioners (referendum request; proceeds-designation resolution adopted unanimously April 20, 2026).

From official source 1, official source 2.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Columbus County ballots

• Columbus County Malt Beverage Election
• Columbus County Unfortified Wine Election
• Columbus County Mixed Beverage Election

All Columbus County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Columbus County Local Sales and Use Tax Referendum mean?

Columbus County would levy a local sales and use tax of one-quarter percent (0.25%), in addition to all other state and local sales and use taxes.

What does a NO vote on Columbus County Local Sales and Use Tax Referendum mean?

Columbus County would not levy the additional 0.25% local sales and use tax.

How many votes does Columbus County Local Sales and Use Tax Referendum need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Columbus County Local Sales and Use Tax Referendum?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.