Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax program — funding structure

Two half-cent sales taxes fund most major road work in Mount Pleasant. 2004 referendum: approved fall 2004 for 25 years or until $1.3 billion is collected; no more than $1,081,788,800 for transportation projects and $221,571,200 for the Greenbelt Program; collections began May 2005; also funds CARTA. Bond referenda distributed $113 million (2004) and an additional $205 million (November 2006). 2016 referendum (Ordinance #1907, adopted August 9, 2016): a second half-cent beginning May 2017 for 25 years or until $2.1 billion is collected, split $1,890,000,000 transportation and mass transit / $210,000,000 greenbelts; its named project list includes "SC 41 Improvements / US 17 to Wando Bridge." ANNUAL ALLOCATION PROGRAM: County Council allocates $9 million a year (2005-2030) — resurfacing $4M, bike/pedestrian $1M, local paving $2M, intersection improvements $2M, rural roads $2M (the County's own page lists components summing to $11M against a stated $9M total — the page is internally inconsistent). The 2016 program's annual allocation begins in 2031 at an anticipated $9 million a year to 2042. "C" FUNDS: the county receives 3.99 cents per gallon of gasoline sold (raised from 2.66 cents by the 2016 state gas tax increase, finalized 2021), awarded by the Charleston County Transportation Committee. On September 2, 2026 the County launched a public Transportation Sales Tax dashboard covering 490 road projects (400 completed, 90 active) representing nearly $1 billion, with funding, scope, status and timeline per project. Contact roads@charlestoncounty.org, 843-202-7617. Checked Sept 4, 2026.