Voters Split on School Sales Tax Measures in Two States
Adams County voters rejected a school facilities tax, while voters in Charleston and Dorchester counties approved similar measures to fund construction and improvements.
Voters in two different regions reached opposing conclusions on school funding through sales taxes in November 2026 elections. In Adams County, voters defeated a proposed 1% sales tax with 13,220 votes opposed to 10,899 in favor. The measure would have generated annual revenues for five districts, including $8.5 million for Quincy Public Schools, to fund building renovations, safety improvements, and mental health professionals.
Following the defeat, Quincy Public Schools Superintendent Larry Gray stated the district will examine all options to move forward. Other local leaders noted the loss of a designated funding source for safety and repairs, with some suggesting that difficult economic conditions contributed to the failure of the tax, which lacked a sunset provision.
Conversely, voters in South Carolina approved school construction taxes in both Charleston and Dorchester counties. Charleston County voters authorized a six-year extension of an existing tax expected to generate $1.25 billion for projects such as a new elementary school in West Ashley. In Dorchester County, voters approved a new tax for the first time, which is projected to generate $688.2 million starting April 1, 2027. These funds are restricted by state law to capital needs and debt reduction, prohibiting their use for operational costs or salaries.
