This Letter to the Editor is from the Beaufort Federation of Republican Men, penned by our Issues Committee Head, Jeff Johnson, on behalf of the group.
The Beaufort County 2024 Transportation Sales and Use Tax Referendum will soon be up for a vote. While no one can deny the poor state of our roads, streets, and bridges—clear evidence of the need for critical infrastructure upgrades—the experience of the previous 2018 penny tax (which expired in 2021) gives us serious reason for caution.
The county’s failure to efficiently and effectively manage the funds from the 2018 referendum is concerning. The completion of only 4 out of 34 planned projects is disappointing by any measure. It demonstrates that, while the intent behind the tax was good, the execution was deeply flawed.
Having attended council meetings and spoken with several members, I’m certain no one set out to fail. However, a combination of factors—including a lack of individual expertise, administrative missteps, the disruptions caused by COVID-19, and the broader failures in county leadership—have left us in a quagmire. The arrival of a new county administrator, the ongoing state-level investigations, and the proposed formation of a citizen’s supervisory council all offer hope, but they haven’t had the time to make a meaningful impact on the issues we’re facing.
In light of these realities, we believe that rejecting the 2024 Transportation Sales and Use Tax Referendum is the prudent choice. Our officials need time to regroup, refocus, and rebuild administrative control. Our new County Administrator needs time to address these systemic issues. Only after we have cleaned up our administrative house should we consider passing another tax referendum.
Beaufort County deserves better. Let’s take the necessary time to get it right before committing to another tax that risks repeating past failures. Let’s vote “NO” on ballot questions 1 & 2.
Sincerely,
Jeff Johnson
Issues Committee Chairman
Beaufort Federation of Republican Men
Excellent letter , and he didn’t even say “Council, you’ve lost our trust and we have no thoughts of providing you with a slush fund to spend as you see fit”. No more taxing until they prove they’re capable of PLANNING and EXECUTING. And they should not waste their breath threatening to raise our property taxes!
Excellant article, and I agree. We need to ask not only where did the 2018 dollars go but to WHOM? For what reason? Unfortunately, the ‘Good ‘ol boy’s’ still prevail in Beaufort County and the State House