Dorchester County voters approved a new one-cent education sales tax Nov. 3, directing hundreds of millions of dollars toward school construction, renovations and other capital improvements in Dorchester School District Two and Dorchester School District Four.

The vote marked the first time Dorchester County put the education sales tax question before voters, ABC News 4 reported. The tax is expected to begin April 1, 2027, and remain in place for up to 15 years.

Unofficial election results showed majority support for the measure. ABC News 4 reported that 31,643 voters, or 59.96%, supported the tax, compared with 21,128 voters, or 40.04%, who opposed it, with all precincts reporting on election night.

A later tally published by the South Carolina Policy Council, citing the South Carolina Election Commission's Election Night Reporting system, showed 35,676 yes votes and 23,297 no votes, or 60.50% support.

The differing totals follow a delay in counting ballots. Dorchester County election officials said a failed USB drive forced workers to rescan more than 5,500 early-voting ballots. The South Carolina Election Commission's 2026 general election results page provides the state's election reporting and downloadable results. The results remain unofficial pending certification.

For families in the Dorchester School District Two service area, the tax will direct most of the revenue to the district. Under the plan, 85% of collections will go to District Two and 15% to Dorchester School District Four.

How much money the tax is expected to raise

The county estimates the one-cent tax will generate approximately $691.7 million over 15 years, based on projections from the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. The estimate is detailed on the county's Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax referendum page.

The Post and Courier reported a projection of $688.2 million. The county's published estimate totals $691.678 million.

Within each district's allocation, 90% of the revenue will fund capital improvement projects. The remaining 10% must be used to reduce existing debt service millage, providing property tax relief.

The money is restricted to capital expenses, such as school construction, renovations, major building systems and equipment. It cannot be used for routine operating expenses, teacher and staff salaries, instructional materials or other day-to-day costs, according to the county and District Two's referendum information page.

The tax applies to most eligible retail purchases made in the county, including clothing, household goods, electronics and prepared food. Unprepared groceries, prescription medication and motor fuel are among the exempt items. The tax also applies to eligible purchases made by people who live outside Dorchester County but shop there.

What District Two plans to build and repair

Dorchester School District Two Superintendent Chad Daugherty outlined the district's facility needs during an Oct. 21 presentation to the Summerville Rotary Club, as reported by the Post and Courier's Journal Scene.

District Two serves about 25,600 students across 24 schools. Daugherty said the district has approximately $700 million in deferred maintenance needs, with buildings averaging 34 years old. Those needs include replacing aging heating and air conditioning systems, plumbing and roofs.

Proposed projects include a new school near Highway 61 and Delemar Highway, renovations at high schools and middle schools, and 30 additional classrooms at Knightsville Elementary School, which was built in 1939.

The district plans to preserve parts of the historic Knightsville building.

"We are keeping the historic part of Knightsville, which is the front entrance and the auditorium," Daugherty said during the Rotary presentation, according to the Journal Scene.

Daugherty also said new residential developments are expected to add 17,000 homes within the district's boundaries, including about 4,000 designated as retirement residences.

The county's referendum materials also list projects for District Four, including new elementary and combined elementary-middle schools, additions and upgrades at Woodland High School and Clay Hill Elementary, and athletic facility improvements.

Voter turnout and reaction

Dorchester County Elections Director Kizzie Scott said more than 53,000 people had cast ballots by 3 p.m. on Election Day, including more than 36,000 early voters. At that point, nearly half of the county's more than 118,000 registered voters had participated, according to ABC News 4.

Dorchester County voter Andrew Johnson supported the measure.

"I'm all for it. People are upset about a little increase in tax and they don't understand that taxes fund we the people," Johnson said.

Lee Gileno, another voter, said he supported providing resources to schools but was concerned about the tax's effect on household budgets.

"It's important for our school districts to have what they need, but at the same time, we have to weigh whether or not how it impacts us as individuals and our taxes and how does that affect our bottom line and our purse strings," Gileno said.

The one-cent tax will add one cent to each dollar spent on eligible purchases in Dorchester County. County and state certification of the election results is pending.