Funding
On November 2, 2004, nearly 60% of voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase in a county-wide referendum. This tax increase, the “Transportation Sales Tax,” was created to fund roadway and transportation improvements and to preserve land through a greenbelt program. The tax is expected to raise $1.3 billion for Charleston County over 25 years.
A Greenbelt Advisory Board was established by Charleston County Council to make recommendations on sales tax expenditures for greenbelt projects. The initial role of the Board was to prepare and deliver recommendations and comments on the Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan, which was adopted by Charleston County Council on June 6, 2006. This plan established three separate programs for land acquisition funding:
- Rural Grant Program
- Urban Grant Program
- Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission Regional Parkland Program
To find out more about the Rural and Urban Grant programs, please visit the Charleston County Greenbelt Program.