Dillon County Stands Alone In Rejecting Capital Projects Sales Tax

DILLON — Dillon County was the only county in South Carolina where voters rejected a capital-projects sales tax referendum on Nov. 3, turning down the proposed penny tax by roughly 2-to-1 while voters in six other counties approved theirs.

In unofficial results with all precincts reporting, Dillon County’s referendum failed, 5,334 votes against to 2,615 in favor. The “no” votes accounted for 67.10% of the total.

Calhoun, Chester, Chesterfield, Lee, Marion, and Saluda counties all approved capital-projects sales tax questions in the same election. Chesterfield recorded the strongest vote in favor at 72.17%, followed closely by Lee County at 71.58%. Marion voted 61.13% in favor, Saluda 60.38%, Calhoun 57.75% and Chester 57.46%.

Dillon County’s proposal would have imposed a special 1% sales and use tax for up to eight years. It was projected to raise $26 million for 14 capital projects.

All of the Nov. 3 referendum results remain unofficial until state certification, scheduled for Nov. 6.

How the other counties voted
– Calhoun — Yes 3,177 (57.75%); No 2,324
– Chester — Yes 6,384 (57.46%); No 4,726
– Chesterfield — Yes 9,332 (72.17%); No 3,598
– Lee — Yes 3,810 (71.58%); No 1,513
– Marion — Yes 5,918 (61.13%); No 3,763
– Saluda — Yes 4,059 (60.38%); No 2,663