The Citizen-Led Oversight Committee (CLOC), established to oversee projects under the 2019 Beaufort County School District Bond Referendum, is gaining recognition as a model for transparent public engagement. The committee is being hailed not only for its role within the school district, but also as a potential framework for overseeing other large-scale public projects, such as restabilizing Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, or planning future Transportation Sales & Use Taxes. Beaufort Insider attended the committee’s 58th meeting on November 13th, 2024, to gain a better understanding of the CLOC and how we, as a community, can build upon their achievements.
After Beaufort County voters approved the $344 million referendum in November 2019, Beaufort County School District (BCSD) had to find a way to maintain voters’ confidence and keep them informed on how their tax dollars were being spent. Superintendent Frank Rodgriguez sought to establish CLOC to act as an “independent watchdog” of referendum projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. According to the 2019 CLOC Chair Michael McNally, the committee is “strictly a smart-citizen group,” not associated with a school district, contractors, or architects. Previous project reports have shown that the committee’s efforts have been largely successful. The Board of Education’s Vice-Chair Richard Geier, told Beaufort Insider that the CLOC “paved the way for the 2023 Referendum to be passed” with an overwhelming 72% of the vote and $95 million more in taxpayer dollars than the 2019 Referendum as a result of this success.
The overarching function of the CLOC is to oversee BCSD projects and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent carefully and wisely, and that all materials used are the safest for our citizens and of the utmost quality. “A large percentage of the budget goes towards safety and security,” said McNally, “including ‘state of the art’ technology and communication across all BCSD schools.” As the safety of students and citizens is the most crucial aspect of these projects, the CLOC exhausts every opportunity to address areas of improvement in each school in the county.
When asked what makes the CLOC so successful in regards to the success of referendum projects and transparency with the public, members gave varying responses, though they all had one thing in common. It’s the people. The committee is made up of about nine volunteers, but they aren’t just any average citizens. Rather, CLOC is made up of project managers, civil engineers, urban planners, and skilled professionals with a vested interest in the success of these projects, but without biased ties to outside forces. “They can’t have any skin in the game, no bias. And they have to have an open mind,” responded Richard Geier. This ‘experienced impartiality’ from volunteers across Beaufort County allows for effective and efficient management of taxpayer dollars for BCSD projects.
In regards to what advice he would give to a new citizen-led oversight committee, Geier led with, “you’ve got to find the right people,” those with experience but without temptation in outside interests. According to Geier, there is no shortage of talent in Beaufort County, as many people come here to retire with decades of experience under their belt, it’s just the matter of finding them and convincing them to join. “Then, you have to go overboard to earn (the public’s) trust.” CLOC member Richard Tritschler had a similar perspective, citing “finding the right people” as the most important piece of advice for future CLOCs. “You need to find people that are mature, collaborative, and have civility- especially with constituents,” Tritschler noted.
As Beaufort city officials and residents go back-and-forth on what should be done about Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, one point everyone can agree on is that this project is going to require a careful eye, responsible spending, and a load of citizen input. The school district’s CLOC could serve as a beneficial framework for the upcoming project. During the City Council meeting on November 12th, Mayor Phil Cromer and Beaufort City Council voted to implement a committee consisting of a County Council member, City Council member, Historic District Review Board (HDRB) member, Planning Commission member, Beaufort City Manager Scott Marshall, and three citizens. The committee’s purpose is to gather data (including a public survey), report to City Council, and advise both Council and the City Manager on negotiations between the City and any third-party for the future use of the Marina and seawall of the Waterfront Park. According to Mayor Cromer, “My hope is that when we select an option for the Waterfront Park (from the engineering firm), then we would stand up a committee to give input for what they would want in the park once it is repaired or replaced.” Just like with Boards and Commissions, citizens interested in serving are encouraged to apply, they will be subsequently interviewed and chosen by a majority of City Council.
For Beaufort County, CLOC offers a model for managing future Transportation Sales & Use Tax (TST) Referendums, which funds transportation projects across the county. The TST’s scope, which includes road improvements, bridges, and transportation infrastructure, could benefit from a similar citizen-led committee to build public trust, according to proponents of CLOC. Although the 2024 Transportation Sales & Use Tax did not pass the recent election, we can expect more to come our way in the next few years, and the implementation of a citizen-led oversight committee could greatly impact Beaufort residents’ approval in the next election.
Beyond education, the committee’s success demonstrates how a citizen-led approach could improve oversight on projects throughout the Lowcountry. As the CLOC’s impact becomes more widely recognized, discussions about replicating it for countywide and municipal projects are gaining traction. Implementing similar oversight committees could not only strengthen public trust, but also ensure that taxpayer-funded projects are carried out responsibly, efficiently, and in the best interests of the community. The lingering question is, with growing support for citizen oversight, could committees like Beaufort County School District’s CLOC redefine how public projects are managed and trusted across the Lowcountry?
All CLOC meetings are open to the public, with agendas, project reports, and recorded meetings regularly updated on their website. The next meeting will be held on December 11th, 2024, location TBD.
