Charleston County — Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax
Ballot measure · November 3, 2026
Results: the official election results site. Counts are unofficial until certified.
- What it does
- EDUCATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS SALES AND USE TAX ACT REFERENDUM FOR CHARLESTON COUNTY Must a special one percent sales and use tax be imposed in Charleston County for not more than six years with the revenue of the tax used to pay, directly or indirectly, the cost of the following education capital improvement projects in Charleston County: 1. District-wide school safety and security enhancements to include physical security upgrades, controlled access, video surveillance, communication systems, and measures for continuous improvement of emergency preparedness and response 2. Design, construct and equip additional classrooms in a building addition and annex to include weight room, stadium upgrades and parking additions at Lucy Beckham High School 3. Design, construct, and equip a classroom wing addition to Johns Island Elementary School 4. Design, construct, and equip a Career Technology Education wing at Burke High School 5. Renovate and equip Baptist Hill Middle School on the C.C. Blaney campus 6. Design, construct, and equip a replacement Meeting Street School at Brentwood 7. Design, construct, and equip a new Orange Grove Middle School and Pattison's Academy for Comprehensive Education (PACE) on the former St Andrews High School campus 8. Design, construct, and equip new multipurpose rooms to include Edith Frierson Montessori, East Cooper Montessori, Belle Hall Elementary and AC Corcoran Elementary Schools 9. Building and property improvements to include a car loop expansion at Camp Road Middle School and renovations at James Island Elementary School 10. Design, construct, and equip a replacement Midland Park Primary School 11. Design, construct, and equip a new elementary school and early education classrooms to accommodate growth in the area of West Ashley Long Savannah 12. Design, construct, and equip an auditorium and fine arts classrooms for Baptist Hill High School 13. Design, construct, and equip early education additions to include Laurel Hill Primary, Drayton Hall Elementary and Hunley Park Elementary Schools 14. Design, construct, and equip Phase III of the recapitalization of Deer Park Middle School 15. Design, construct, and equip a replacement Mary Ford Early Learning and Family Center 16. District-wide athletics improvements to include renovation of the Baptist Hill softball field 17. Design, construct, and equip a new multi-purpose room and classroom addition at Pepperhill Elementary School 18. District-wide land purchase for campus expansion, new schools, and/or bus lot 19. Design, construct, and equip a replacement Ladson Primary School 20. Design, construct, and equip a replacement Northwoods Middle School 21. Design, construct, and equip a replacement Montessori Community School on the former St. Andrews High School Campus 22. Design, construct, and equip a new District-wide Montessori Middle School and replacement Simmons-Pinckney Middle School 23. Design, construct, and equip a building replacement for AC Corcoran Elementary School together with the cost of capital maintenance and technology replacement, upgrades and innovation at school facilities of Charleston County School District? All revenue received from the sales and use tax will be used to pay the costs of the education capital improvement projects described above and to pay debt service on general obligation bonds, if any, issued by Charleston County School District to fund the education capital improvement projects described above. Collection of the sales and use tax will commence upon the termination of the one percent education capital improvements sales and use tax currently imposed in Charleston County on December 31, 2028.
- A YES vote means
- Charleston County would impose a 1% sales tax for up to six years, starting when the current one ends December 31, 2028, to pay for 23 listed school projects, including safety upgrades, new and replacement schools, and additions, plus related bond payments.
- A NO vote means
- Charleston County would not impose this new 1% education sales tax after the current one ends December 31, 2028.
- 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.
Background
According to the Charleston County School District, this referendum would extend the county's existing one-cent education sales tax for another six years, 2029 through 2034, without increasing the current sales tax rate.
The district says the money could be used only for capital projects listed in the referendum, such as school construction, building replacements, safety and security upgrades, major maintenance and technology, not day-to-day operating costs; if voters say no, the listed 2029–2034 projects would not receive funding from an extension.
WCIV (ABC News 4) reported that the CCSD Board of Trustees voted to send the extension to the November ballot, and that district staff said roughly 60% of the program's revenue comes from outside visitors.
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Quick answers
- What does a YES vote on Charleston County mean?
- Charleston County would impose a 1% sales tax for up to six years, starting when the current one ends December 31, 2028, to pay for 23 listed school projects, including safety upgrades, new and replacement schools, and additions, plus related bond payments.
- What does a NO vote on Charleston County mean?
- Charleston County would not impose this new 1% education sales tax after the current one ends December 31, 2028.
- How many votes does Charleston County 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 Charleston County?
- 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.
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