City of Mauldin — Tax Relief (Local Option Sales Tax) Referendum (Greenville County)

What it does

Must a one percent sales and use tax be levied in the City of Mauldin, South Carolina for no more than eight years for the purpose of allowing a credit against certain municipal ad valorem tax liability and for the purpose of raising the amounts specified for the following purposes? (1) $15,600,000 for city road infrastructure improvements, including repaving, drainage systems, curbs and sidewalks (2) $4,000,000 for a new fire station project. and must the City Council of the City of Mauldin, South Carolina be authorized to issue and sell, either as a single issue or as several separate issues, not exceeding $15,600,000 principal amount of general obligation bonds of the City of Mauldin, to defray the costs of the foregoing purposes, plus issuance costs, to be paid from the sales and use tax to be imposed as stated herein and pledged to the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds, and, in the event such sales and use tax is inadequate for the payment of such bonds, such bonds shall be payable from an ad valorem tax imposed on all taxable property in the City of Mauldin?

A YES vote means

Mauldin would levy a 1% sales tax for up to eight years to provide a credit against certain city property taxes and raise $15,600,000 for roads and $4,000,000 for a new fire station, and could issue up to $15,600,000 in bonds repaid from the tax, or from property taxes if it falls short.

A NO vote means

Mauldin would not levy this 1% sales tax or issue these bonds.

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

According to the City of Mauldin, the referendum is permitted by South Carolina's Municipal Tax Relief Act (S. 866), enacted in May 2026, which lets cities ask voters for a 1% sales tax of up to eight years for property tax relief and infrastructure.

The City estimates the tax would raise $24.5 million: $19.6 million for street projects and a new fire station (including $15.6 million for roads, drainage, curbs and sidewalks) and $4.9 million for property tax credits for owner-occupied homes. Renters and landlords would not receive the credit.

City Council passed the ordinance placing the question on the ballot 4–1 on first reading (July 20, 2026) and 5–1 on second reading (August 3, 2026). If approved, collection would begin May 1, 2027.

Put on the ballot by Mauldin City Council, 5–1, August 3, 2026.

From official source.

Next elections here

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

Also on Greenville County ballots

• City of Simpsonville — Tax Relief (Local Option Sales Tax) Referendum
• City of Greenville — Tax Relief (Local Option Sales Tax) Referendum
• City of Travelers Rest — Tax Relief (Local Option Sales Tax) Referendum

All Greenville County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Mauldin mean?

Mauldin would levy a 1% sales tax for up to eight years to provide a credit against certain city property taxes and raise $15,600,000 for roads and $4,000,000 for a new fire station, and could issue up to $15,600,000 in bonds repaid from the tax, or from property taxes if it falls short.

What does a NO vote on City of Mauldin mean?

Mauldin would not levy this 1% sales tax or issue these bonds.

How many votes does City of Mauldin 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 City of Mauldin?

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.