Dorchester County school districts plan to use penny sales tax for new schools, repairs

Dorchester County voters approved a penny sales tax for schools that will begin April 1, 2027, and last 15 years, Live 5 WCSC reported. The revenue will be split between Dorchester School District Two, receiving 85%, and District Four, receiving 15%.

Each district must allocate 10% of its share to reduce existing debt service millage for property tax relief, with the remaining 90% dedicated to education capital projects identified by the districts, according to Live 5 WCSC.

Dorchester School District Two plans to use part of its estimated $587.9 million share to build a new middle school near Delmar Highway to address growth, as well as to repair aging buildings such as roofs and air conditioning systems, Superintendent Chad Daugherty said to Live 5 WCSC.

The district also aims to invest in new buses, athletic facilities, and playgrounds. Sand Hill Elementary and East Edisto Middle School are currently over capacity, leading to redrawn attendance boundaries, Live 5 WCSC reported.

Summerville High School teacher Julie Sammartano highlighted the importance of these improvements for students and staff, noting that aging infrastructure like leaking roofs disrupts the educational environment, according to Live 5 WCSC.