Legislative eNews

Government Affairs Update from the Hilton Head Island-
Bluffton Chamber of Commerce -- Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 2005

www.hiltonheadisland.org
www.highway278.org

Topic #1 - Process under way for organizations to apply for county 3% ATAX funds - Beaufort County this month will send information to organizations that may want to apply for funding from the county's 3% accommodations tax.  The county, at its finance committee meeting on Nov. 28, said it would send the information to organizations that had received state 2% allocations in the past two years.  Applications for the 3% funds likely will be due in February.  Approximately $400,000 is available for tourism-related capital projects and river/beach access and renourishment. 

Topic #2 - County assessor making progress in reassessment appeals - Beaufort County's newly-hired assessor Ed Hughes, at Nov. 28's county finance committee meeting, reported his office has completed 78% of the 11,657 appeals filed in response to 2004's countywide property reassessment.

Topic #3 -- $50 million land-purchase bond referendum likely for November '06 - Beaufort County's finance committee on Nov. 28 voted to recommend to the full County Council a $50 million bond referendum be held in November '06 to continue funding the county's land-preservation program.  County Council will consider the recommendation at its Dec. 12 meeting.  The committee also recommended allocating $720,000 (half mill) in the county's 2006-07 budget as bridge funding to keep the program going until the voters determine the its fate.

Topic #4 - Final version of stormwater master plan expected February '06 - County Administrator Gary Kubic reported to County Council on Nov. 28 the county's long-awaited stormwater master plan will be finished in February and ready for council's deliberation.  Peter Lamb, chairman of county's public services committee, said his committee will hold a workshop on the master plan possibly in January.

Topic #5 - County to study impact of illegal immigration - At the urging of County Council member Starletta Hairston, County Administrator Gary Kubic has contacted the Strom Thurmond Institute and suggested the institute partner with USC-Beaufort to study the impact of illegal immigration.  Kubic says he hopes to have the study's scope and blueprint ready in two weeks and have development of the study under way by the end of December.