Georgetown County voters approve Local Option Sales Tax referendum

Georgetown County voters approved a referendum on Tuesday, November 3, authorizing the implementation of a one percent Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) throughout Georgetown County.

The Local Option Sales Tax is a one percent sales and use tax applied to eligible goods and services, with the primary purpose of providing property tax relief. Under South Carolina law, 71 percent of the revenue generated must be allocated to a Property Tax Credit Fund, which is used to reduce eligible property tax bills. The remaining 29 percent is distributed among Georgetown County and its municipalities to support local government operations and services, based on a distribution formula established by state law.

The South Carolina Department of Revenue and State Treasurer are responsible for administering the collection and distribution of LOST revenues to the respective local
governments.

In the months leading up to the referendum, Georgetown County conducted an extensive public education campaign to help residents better understand the proposed tax, its exemptions, and its potential impact on property owners.

“Our team completed more than two dozen public outreach events between August 24 and Election Day,” said Brandon Ellis, Assistant County Administrator. “We worked hard to educate the public on the mechanics of the Local Option Sales Tax, including how it works, what is and isn’t taxed, and how it could impact individual residents. Our goal throughout this process was simply to provide accurate, factual information so voters could make informed decisions based on their individual circumstances.”

The Local Option Sales Tax will take effect May 1, 2027, in accordance with state law. Because the tax will only be collected for a portion of its first year, the initial property tax credits will reflect a partial year of revenue collections. In subsequent years, property tax credits will be calculated based on the revenue generated during the applicable collection period and distributed in accordance with state law.

With the referendum approved, Georgetown County will begin coordinating with the appropriate state agencies and local municipalities to prepare for implementation. Additional information regarding the collection process, property tax credits, and anticipated timelines will be shared with residents as it becomes available.