Dorchester County — Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax

What it does

EDUCATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS SALES AND USE TAX ACT REFERENDUM FOR DORCHESTER COUNTY Must a special one percent sales and use tax be imposed in Dorchester County for not more than fifteen (15) calendar years with the revenue of the tax, as allocated below, used to pay, directly or indirectly, the cost of the following education capital improvement projects in Dorchester County Allocation between school districts 85% to Dorchester School District Two; and 15% to Dorchester School District Four Use of each district’s allocation 10% used to provide property tax relief by reducing the existing debt service millage levy for that district’s existing general obligation bond debt; and 90% to pay, directly or indirectly, the costs of that district’s education capital improvement projects listed below Dorchester School District Two Projects a. Design, construct, and equip a new school or schools in the southern and northwestern portions of Dorchester School District Two, generally in the area of Highway 61 and Delemar Highway (SC-165) b. Design, renovate, construct and equip Summerville High School including academic, fine-arts, outdoor athletic facilities and CTE programs c. Design, renovate, construct, and equip Fort Dorchester High School including academic, fine-arts, outdoor athletic facilities and CTE programs d. Design, renovate, construct, equip and/or expand at Ashley Ridge High School including academic, fine-arts, outdoor athletic facilities and CTE programs e. Design, renovate and equip Alston Middle School f. Design, renovate, construct, equip, and/or expand Dubose Middle School g. Design, renovate and equip Gregg Middle School h. Replace and repair roofs at multiple school facilities i. Replace and install HVAC, equipment, and furniture at multiple school facilities j. Replace school district buses, including special-education buses, general-education buses, and school activity buses k. Renovate, construct, and/or equip playgrounds at multiple school facilities l. Renovate flooring and lighting at multiple school facilities m. Together with the cost of capital maintenance and technology replacement and upgrades at school facilities of Dorchester School District Two Dorchester School District Four Projects a. New Facilities i. Ridgeville School 1. Build a new combined elementary/middle school in the Ridgeville area to replace the existing school ii. St. George School 1. Build a new elementary school in the St. George area to replace the existing school b. Improvements, Additions and Renovations to Existing Facilities i. Woodland High School Instructional Programs 1. New additions 2. Facility upgrades ii. Clay Hill Elementary 1. Add portables to temporarily absorb growth during the construction of their new school 2. Modifications to classrooms to accommodate students from ages three to six iii. Woodland High School Athletics 1. Construct a new fieldhouse 2. Facility upgrades iv. Harleyville Elementary 1. Modification of offices into classrooms. 2. Facility Upgrades v. District Office 1. Modify classrooms to accommodate career tech programming?

A YES vote means

Dorchester County would impose a 1% sales tax for up to 15 years, split 85% to School District Two and 15% to School District Four, with 10% of each share used to lower existing bond debt tax rates and 90% for listed new schools, renovations, roofs, HVAC, buses and other projects.

A NO vote means

Dorchester County would not impose this 1% education capital improvements sales tax.

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

Dorchester County Council adopted Resolution 26-07 on August 3, 2026 calling this referendum on a 1% education capital improvements sales tax for up to 15 years, according to Dorchester School District Two.

According to the district, revenue would be split 85% to Dorchester School District Two and 15% to Dorchester School District Four, and within each share 10% would reduce existing school debt-service property tax millage, with the rest going to listed capital projects.

The district cites a South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office projection of $688.2 million over 15 years; listed DD2 projects include new schools near Highway 61 and Delemar Highway, renovations or expansions at several high and middle schools, building systems work and bus replacement. If approved, collection would begin April 1, 2027.

Put on the ballot by Dorchester County Council, August 3, 2026 (Resolution 26-07).

From official source 1, official source 2.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Dorchester County mean?

Dorchester County would impose a 1% sales tax for up to 15 years, split 85% to School District Two and 15% to School District Four, with 10% of each share used to lower existing bond debt tax rates and 90% for listed new schools, renovations, roofs, HVAC, buses and other projects.

What does a NO vote on Dorchester County mean?

Dorchester County would not impose this 1% education capital improvements sales tax.

How many votes does Dorchester 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 Dorchester 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.