Chesterfield County — Capital Project Sales Tax
Ballot measure · November 3, 2026
Results: the official election results site. Counts are unofficial until certified.
- What it does
- Must a special one percent sales and use tax be imposed in Chesterfield County, South Carolina for not more than eight (8) years to raise the amounts specified for the design, engineering, purchase (including, in certain instances, the purchase of real property), construction, renovation, equipping, and furnishing of the following: Construction of a New County Detention Center Cost $50,000,000 and must the County Council of Chesterfield County be authorized to issue not exceeding $50,000,000 principal amount of general obligation bonds of Chesterfield County as a single issue or several issues, provided that the proceeds of such bonds shall be applied to defray the costs of the foregoing project, including costs overruns, and issuance costs, and provided further that in the event the sales and use tax to be imposed as stated herein is inadequate for the payment of such bonds, such bonds shall be payable from an ad valorem tax imposed on all taxable property in Chesterfield County?
- A YES vote means
- Chesterfield County would impose a 1% sales tax for up to eight years to raise $50,000,000 for a new county detention center, and could issue up to $50,000,000 in bonds repaid from the tax, or from property taxes if it falls short.
- A NO vote means
- The 1% sales tax would not be imposed, and these bonds for a new detention center would not be issued.
- 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
- Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).
Background
Under South Carolina's Capital Project Sales Tax Act, a six-member county commission (three appointed by county council and three by the county's municipalities) formulates the ballot question, and the tax is imposed by a county council ordinance subject to voter approval; jails and detention facilities are among the allowed project types.
The ballot question would impose a 1% sales tax for up to eight years to pay for a single project, a new county detention center costing $50,000,000, and would authorize up to $50,000,000 in general obligation bonds, with property taxes as backup if sales tax revenue falls short.
WBTV reported that the current detention center is more than 50 years old, has been overcrowded for years, and has failed annual state Department of Corrections inspections, according to the sheriff's office; the station reported the tax is estimated to raise $5.5 million a year.
In the news
Next elections here
Quick answers
- What does a YES vote on Chesterfield County mean?
- Chesterfield County would impose a 1% sales tax for up to eight years to raise $50,000,000 for a new county detention center, and could issue up to $50,000,000 in bonds repaid from the tax, or from property taxes if it falls short.
- What does a NO vote on Chesterfield County mean?
- The 1% sales tax would not be imposed, and these bonds for a new detention center would not be issued.
- How many votes does Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield 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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