The Beaufort County Council met Tuesday. Below are some agenda highlights from each meeting.

County Council Caucus

There were no matters arising from County Council Caucus Executive Session.

County Council Meeting

Agenda Items:

Ordinances for Third Reading and Public Hearing

• An ordinance to amend Beaufort County's Budget Ordinance for FY 2026 to appropriate General Fund Fund Balance for the purchase of a helicopter for BCSO and fully fund the Buckwalter Recreation Athletic Complex Expansion Council passed this 9-1.
  
  These ordinances passed unanimously:
  
  
• An ordinance authorizing the purchase of real property form the Town of Hilton Head Island for St. James Baptist Church relocation
  
  
• An ordinance authorizing the conveyance of real property to St. James Baptist Church following completion of the relocation project
  
  
• An ordinance authorizing the County Administrator to execute any and all documents for the acceptance of a portion of Airport Circle which is to be abandoned by SCDOT

Ordinances for Second Reading and Public Hearing

• An ordinance amending Chapter 38 Environment Article VI Single Use Plastic Bags. The ordinance was amended to state that events on County properties in unincorporated areas had to abide by the ordinance and the penalty was amended from misdemeanor to a civil violation with a citation. It now moves to Third Reading.

Ordinances for First Reading

• An ordinance to provide for the levy of tax for school purposes for Beaufort County begin July 1. Dr. Frank Rodriguez and CFO Tanya Crosby gave a budget presentation outlining funding sources, staffing and salary levels, trying to keep costs minimal while remaining competitive with Charleston County. Affordable housing remains a challenge for new teachers and staff however overall they have strengthened their workforce stability and maintain one of the highest starting teacher salaries in the state. Council voted to move this to second reading.
  
  Watch the Beaufort County School District budget presentation here. 
  
  
• An ordinance amending Beaufort County Ordinance Chapter 102 Waterways, definitions, purpose, penalties, dock rules, landing rules, penalties. Daufuskie Island changes were included to consider the impact to living and working on the island and needing all supplies delivered by barge and boat. Future discussions and amendments can address liability issues, business licenses, and any permitting issues. Council voted to move this to second reading.
  
  
• An ordinance to make appropriations for County Government and Special Purpose Districts for Beaufort County for FY 26/27; to levy taxes for payment, to adopt service and user fees, to provide for the expenditure of said taxes and other revenues coming into the County.
  
  
• An ordinance providing for a 2026 Transportation Sales Tax Referendum as amended. Two changes were included in the amended ordinance: to extend the length of the tax collection from 8 years to nine and to remove prepared food as a taxable item. Council voted to move this to second reading.
  
  
• An ordinance to amend Beaufort County's Parks and Recreation ordinance to change the boards authority to set fees and rates
  
  
• An ordinance authorizing a lease agreement between Beaufort County and the General Services Administration for TSA use within the Hilton Head Island Airport terminal
  
  Resolutions
  
  
•  A resolution to use Organics-First Integrated Pest Management Practices and Standards to prioritize the use of prevention-based, least toxic, organic practices and reduce the use of synthetic pesticides for public land management where possible
• A resolution for a third addendum to the Memo of Agreement with the Town of Hilton Head Island for the St. James Baptist Church Relocation Project

To watch the full County Council 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. 

County Administrator's Report

County Administrator Michael Moore shared a reminder that hurricane season begins Monday, June 1. Since May is Hurricane Preparedness Month, he encouraged County residents to prepare now: pack supplies including medicines, important papers, non-perishable food items, pets and supplies for them. 

Here's more information on May as Hurricane Preparedness Month.

Watch the County Administrator's presentation to Council here.

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.