The Beaufort County Finance, Administration, and Economic Development Committee met Tuesday, February 17, followed by the Public Facilities Committee. Below are some agenda highlights from each meeting.

Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee

Finance Report
County Chief Financial Officer Pinky Harriott gave an update on department expenditures and tax collection status during the first quarter of the year. She noted that spending in some departments is below previous years, while ad valorem tax collections are ahead of previous years. Watch her presentation here.

Presentation of Options to fund USCB's Convocation Center
USCB's Vice Chancellor of Finance gave a brief updated on the proposed project and confirmed and potential funding sources. USCB is requesting $47 million in matching funds for the project. Council members expressed concerns about the request since taxpayers are going to be voting on another penny referendum in November. Council Members Tabernik and Brown inquired about the status of support and financial commitment from other municipalities and private donors to help offset costs.

Hawkers and Peddlers 2026 License Fees
There will be no increase in these license fees. This was approved without objection and moved to County Council on Monday, February 23.

Resolutions passed to revise policies and procedures for processing applications for County 3% Local Accommodations Tax Funds and 2% Hospitality Tax Funds
Beaufort County Resolution 2026/04 This resolution is repealing Resolution 2024/54 and Resolution 2019/31 and replacing them with new policies and procedures and then include the application period. This was approved with no objection and will be moved to County Council on Monday, February 23.

Beaufort County Historical Society: Historical Marker on County Property
The committee approved Beaufort County Historical Society's request to place a Union encampment historical marker near the tennis courts at Bayden and Boundary Street, as this is County property. The Beaufort County Historical Society has already received approval from the South Carolina Historical Society and the City of Beaufort Historical Society. All maintenance to the sign will be the responsibility of the Beaufort County Historical Society. The item was approved with no objection and will be moved to the County Council on Monday, February 23.

Public Facilities Committee

Assistant County Administrator Report-Jared Fralix
ARPA funding for Beaufort Executive Airport hangars. Cost is $2 million: $1.4 million from SC Aeronautics Association and about $650,000 from ARPA funds. 

Ordinance amending Beaufort County Ordinance Chapter 102 Waterways
Motion was made to move this as a discussion item and not discussed as an ordinance or action item. The Town of Hilton Head has contacted the County to request discussion of various docks located within the Town of Hilton Head. Members of Lowcountry Waterway Alliance proposed to bring all stakeholders to the table to work with Town of Hilton Head Island and County staff to further clarify language and evaluate a proposed permit and fee process.

Beaufort County Historical Society: Historical Marker on County Property
Recognition of significant historic events: corner of Bladen/Boundary. Recognizes a military encampment including the troops of the 55th Massachusetts Unit. The item was approved with no objection and will be moved to the County Council on Monday, February 23. 

Contract approvals:
To Gulf Stream Construction Co. for Rivers End Drainage Improvements Project
To Jarrell Brothers Construction for construction of Ford's Shell Ring Park at 273 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island (County Passive Park shared with Town of Hilton Head Island--4000 year old Native American site)
To Low Country Commercial Services for Janitorial Services at Hilton Head Island Airport
To W.M. Roebuck for installation of traffic signal mast arm poles at Bluffton Parkway at River Ridge Drive

All contracts were voted on and passed unanimously.

To watch the Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee meeting, click here.

To watch the Public Facilities Committee Meeting, click here.

Note: this is a selection of items from the Council Committee Meeting Agendas. To watch the meeting in its entirety, download the agenda and packet, view minutes and more, please visit www.beaufortcountysc.gov. 

All County Committee and Council meetings are streamed live and available on demand through

Looking for more details or a specific item not covered in this release? Check out BCTV for full meeting recordings, agendas, and other details! BCTV can be found on cable channels Comcast - channel 2; Sparklight- channel 9 and 113; Spectrum - channel 1304. BCTV also streams live on ROKU and Amazon Fire.