bluffton sales tax project list

Beaufort County Capital Project

Sales Tax Commission

Recommendations

by

Town of Bluffton

Key Priorities

• Bluffton Parkway Phase 5B

• May River Initiatives

• Bluffton Public Development Corporation

Bluffton Parkway Phase 5B

Description: Four-lane divided arterial roadway 2.5 miles in length

Cost: $28,000,000

Key Facts: This is the only major project South of the Broad that was

promised to the taxpayers in the last penny sales tax but was not built;

Roadway designed as part of route to I-95 via Jasper County Exit 3


• Key Issues to Consider

– No other funding sources currently in hand

– Project opens up key commercial areas targeted for growth;

Tax revenue would increase with commercial development;

Construction of road and commercial properties would put revenue

in the local economy

– Operations & maintenance costs would be similar to existing

Bluffton Parkway Phases 1-4

– Short-term construction & engineering jobs required for this

overdue project; Long-term jobs would be in commercial

enterprises on sites opened up by Parkway


• Key Issues to Consider (Continued)

– Helps Beaufort County as a whole:

• Transportation network enhanced via alternate parallel route to US 278

• Proposed as part of continuous hurricane evacuation route serving Hilton Head

Island, Bluffton, and portions of unincorporated Beaufort County

• Provides alternate routes out of neighborhoods with one entry point such as

Woodbridge and Shell Hall

– Any studies were previously performed by Beaufort County prior

to inclusion of this project in the 2006 penny sales tax program

May River Initiatives


• May River Watershed Action Plan

– Action Item: Sewer Connections

• Description: Protection of water quality by

providing sanitary sewer instead of septic tanks by

May River

• Assessment: May River Watershed Sewer Master

Plan – See map for six un-served areas in Beaufort

County and Town of Bluffton


• May River Watershed Sewer Master Plan

– Cost (3 of 6 phases)

• Old Town Gravity Sewer - $2,600,000

• Alljoy & Myrtle Island Vacuum Sewer -

$10,300,000

• Stoney Creek Vacuum Sewer - $4,700,000


• May River Watershed Action Plan

– Action Item: Hydrology Projects

• Description: Expansion of stormwater pilot

program with hydrology-based projects including

Rose Dhu Sub-Watershed Wetland Restoration and

Rose Dhu Sub-Watershed Pond Retrofits

• Cost: $1,000,000



– Not eligible for CDBG funding like other projects; Could fund

through taxes & fees but incremental approach could take decades

– Revenue and property values are protected by preserving the river

– Sewer O&M handled by BJWSA; Stormwater O&M by TOB

– Construction & engineering jobs required for these key projects


• County residents beyond Bluffton use river for recreation, boating, swimming

• County residents have jobs supported by the river (e.g., oystering, shrimping,

fishing, eco-tourism, etc.)

• Preservation of river and recreational uses supports the quality of life indicator

used in economic development

– Cost/benefit study not performed but cost of not doing projects to

preserve water quality should be clear

Bluffton Public Development Corp.

• Multi-County Commerce Park

– Action Item: Infrastructure Construction

• Description: Design and construction of major

infrastructure including the ring road and northern

entrance at the Buckwalter Place Multi-County

Commerce Park (also known as the Multi-County

Industrial Park or MCIP)

• Cost: $6,000,000




– MCIP revenue stream can – and Utility Tax Credits may –

supplement the available funding; However, waiting for these two

sources could put off infrastructure improvements for years –

attracting economic development requires product available now

– Commerce park and the resultant economic development is

designed to increase tax base and tax revenue through business

attraction and retention

– Once completed, the business park’s POA will handle operations

& maintenance

– Short-term construction & engineering jobs required both for this

infrastructure work as well as the construction of buildings and

facilities for businesses brought to the site; Long-term jobs would

be in commercial enterprises located in this commerce park


• Key Issues to Consider (Continued)


• Creation of primary jobs brings revenue into the County as a whole

– Taxpayers in municipalities also pay taxes to County

• Economic development was identified as a key priority both by Beaufort

County and the Town of Bluffton

– Cost/benefit study not yet performed but example of CareCore

National at this location provides key case illustrating positive

impact on Beaufort County

Other Priorities

• Other priorities to be considered jointly

between County and Municipalities

– Sidewalks and bike paths/leisure trails

– Lighting along parkways and pathways

– Additions, upgrades, improvements to parks

– Improvements/expansion of Calhoun St. Dock

– Acquisition/improvement of May River Park

bluffton sales tax project list

Documents