Option to Renew Penny Sales Tax
OVERVIEW:
On November 4, 2008, voters in Horry County (the “County”) approved the Education Capital Improvement Sales and Use Sales Tax (the “Sales Tax”) to fund capital improvements for public schools and the county’s two institutions of higher education. Horry County Schools (the “School District”) received 80% of the revenue. Coastal Carolina University received 13.3% of the revenue and Horry-Georgetown Technical College received 6.7% of the revenue. If the reimposition of the 1% sales tax is approved by the voters, those percentages of the revenues shared will be the same.
The 1% sales tax reduced the millage levied on behalf of the school district for debt service from 28 mills to 10 mills, provided a revenue stream to help pay for growth, and allowed for more collaboration for educational programs among Horry County Schools, Coastal Carolina University, and Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
Learn more about the Penny Sales Tax for Horry County Schools: https://www.horrycountyschools.net/penny
Learn more about the Penny Sales Tax for Horry Georgetown Technical College: https://www.hgtc.edu/about_hgtc/administrativedepartments/purchasingandprocurement/planning-design/penny-tax.html
As of June 2022, over $953.6 million has been collected from the 1% sales tax, which sunsets in March 2024.
The Horry County Board of Education has ordered a referendum to be held on November 8, 2022, to reimpose the 1% sales tax for an additional 15 years. The question will be at the end of the ballot under the heading "LOCAL QUESTION."
NEW CONSTRUCTION:
HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center (The HTC Center)

Completed in 2012, this 159,293-square-foot facility is the home of Chanticleer men's and women's basketball, and volleyball, as well as the University's student recreation center. Additionally, commencement ceremonies and convocations are held in the HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center, which accommodates more than 3,600 attendees. The facility contains a full student recreation center that includes a climbing wall, fitness floor, group exercise studios, indoor walking track, and outdoor center. The campus bookstore, the Chanticleer Store, is also located in The HTC Center. A portion of this facility was funded by Penny Sales Tax.
Brittain Hall

49,146-square-foot academic building completed in 2012 that includes 15 classrooms, 109 faculty/staff offices along with conference rooms and support spaces, and a 1,700-square-foot food service space. This facility was partially funded by Penny Sales Tax.
Central Energy Plant

7,200-square-foot plant completed in 2013 and made up of a cooling tower, water-cooled chillers and cooling pumps. All of the buildings supported by the plant receive their air conditioning via an underground chilled water distribution system. The system is controlled in each building with automated controls and uses the existing natural gas systems to heat all of the buildings on its matrix. This setup allows for a more efficient system, housed in a smaller area.
Science Annex II

This 71,150-square-foot annex to the R. Cathcart Smith Science Center was completed in 2016. The annex consists of 40 faculty offices, eight teaching labs for biology and marine science, four 60-seat classrooms, two 45-seat classrooms, and one ecology teaching lab and six small labs for ecology research. This facility was partially funded by Penny Sales Tax.
Academic Classroom Building II

52,954-square-foot academic facility completed in 2017. It provides 16 classrooms/labs, three study rooms for students, multiple open collaborative spaces for students, and offices for more than 100 faculty and staff from various disciplines.
Thompson Library

65,860-square-foot academic building containing classrooms, offices, a computer lab, makerspace, virtual reality and visualization labs, designated space for academic tutoring, and an area designated for food service. An open, two-story learning commons will occupy the center of the complex, and provide open seating and grouped seating for study and team collaboration. The Thompson Library is scheduled to be complete in August 2024 and will be funded primarily by Penny Sales Tax.
ACQUISITIONS:
Hackler Golf Course

This par-72 course was acquired in 2010 and is the Grand Strand's only university-affiliated course. With its 18 beautifully carved holes, it is home to CCU's PGA Golf Management program, one of only 18 university programs accredited by the PGA of America.
Human Resources Building

This 5,753-square-foot administrative building was purchased in 2011 and houses Human Resources and Equal Opportunity.
Student Health Center

Acquired in 2012, this 7,884-square-foot medical facility provides primary care as well as prevention and education services. Counseling Services is also located in the Student Health Center and provides individual, couples, and/or group experiential, cultural, and evidence-based psychotherapy to students.
Atlantic Hall

18,422-square-foot administrative building purchased in 2012 containing office space for Procurement Services and Central Receiving as well as a considerable amount of warehouse space.
Coastal Science Center

This 69,435-square-foot academic building was purchased in 2012 and provides classroom space, labs and faculty office space. The Academic Testing Center is also located in this facility. Acquisition also included 10.62 acres of property.