South Carolina Voters to Decide on Sales Tax Measures
Ballot initiatives on November 3 will determine if three counties adopt a one-percent local sales tax.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in City Hall
Live Poll
Do you support increasing local sales taxes to fund infrastructure projects and reduce property taxes?
South Carolina voters will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide on one-percent sales tax initiatives in specific counties. These local measures aim to generate funding for infrastructure projects while providing property tax relief to residents.
Why it matters
The proposed taxes seek to address critical infrastructure needs, including road repaving and intersection safety improvements, which are intended to bolster local quality of life and public safety. If approved, these initiatives represent a significant shift in how municipalities finance long-term public works.
The proposed one-percent sales tax applies to retail items and restaurant meals, while exempting groceries, gas, utilities, and medicine. Walhalla officials have proposed a tax duration of eight years, with Greenville County targeting 14 specific intersection projects.
The players
Greenville County
A South Carolina administrative region that has identified 14 intersection projects for potential funding.
Simpsonville
A municipality in South Carolina that proposes using tax revenue to repave 39 miles of local roads.
Walhalla
A South Carolina city that has introduced a proposal for an eight-year infrastructure sales tax.
The details
In Simpsonville, tax revenue is slated to fund the repaving of 39 miles of roads, some of which date back to the 1950s. The funds are expected to support quality-of-life investments, with 80% of generated revenue dedicated to those efforts.
Timeline
1950s: The original paving date for the oldest roads identified for repair in Simpsonville.
November 3, 2026: The Election Day for sales tax ballot initiatives across the participating counties.
Political Context
Opponents often raise concerns that additional sales taxes place a regressive financial burden on low-income residents regardless of exemptions. Others argue that local governments should prioritize current budgets over new tax initiatives to address road and infrastructure maintenance needs.
Residents in the participating counties may see a one-percent increase in the cost of retail goods and restaurant meals if the measures pass. Conversely, homeowners could see a reduction in their local property tax burden as the new sales tax revenue is applied to municipal infrastructure budgets.
The takeaway
Voters should review their specific county ballot measures to understand which infrastructure projects are prioritized for funding. These initiatives reflect a broader effort by local municipalities to shift the burden of public infrastructure costs from property owners to general consumers.
What happens next
Voters will cast their ballots on the sales tax initiatives during early voting periods leading up to Election Day on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local municipal governance, visit the City Hall section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WYFF4.
Live Poll
Do you support increasing local sales taxes to fund infrastructure projects and reduce property taxes?
