LANCASTER COUNTY, SC (WBTV) – Voters have until Saturday, November 2nd to cast their early ballots. Election Day is scheduled for next Tuesday, November 5th.

This year, many ballot boxes will offer additional options, including several key referendum votes in various counties and cities.

In Lancaster County, South Carolina, voters will face a significant bond referendum totaling nearly $600 million, the largest in the region. The goal of this bond is to address numerous educational needs in the district.

What is a Bond Referendum?

Referendum votes allow citizens to directly influence laws or proposals that typically bypass elected representatives. For Lancaster County, this bond referendum will appear directly on the ballot and will include a wide range of initiatives.

The bond, valued at approximately $588 million, focuses on critical infrastructure improvements in local schools. The most important projects include:

• Renovations at Buford Middle and High School.
• New elementary and high schools for Indian Land.
• Upgrades and a new gym at Andrew Jackson High School.
• A replacement school for Kershaw Elementary School.

The bond details are extensive, with a dedicated website that can be quite overwhelming. It includes sections on facility needs, project recommendations and cost implications for taxpayers.

Breakdown of costs

The bond documents break down the expected awards in order from largest to lowest as follows:

• Community wide
  • New primary school with 1,200 students
  • New 2,000 student high school in North Area
  • Expansion of athletic support spaces at Indian Land High School and Middle School
  • Community-wide supportive facility upgrades
• Lancaster Township – $113,450,000
  • New primary school with 1,200 students
  • Renovation of the South Middle School
  • Renovations at Lancaster High School
  • Community-wide supportive facility upgrades
• Kershaw Community – $95,000,000
  • New primary school for 1,000 students
  • Andrew Jackson High School’s new gym and renovations
  • Community-wide supportive facility upgrades
• Countywide – $37,600,000
  • Camera expansions/renovations
  • Satellite maintenance facility
  • Activity buses
  • Renovation of the elementary and middle school gymnasium
  • Expansion of the district office meeting room
  • Conversion of the North Primary School
• Buford Community – $26,500,000
  • Buford Middle School renovation
  • Renovations at Buford High School
  • Community-wide supportive facility upgrades

If a majority of voters reject the bond, it will not pass. Conversely, a majority vote allows the district to issue the bonds, resulting in a tax increase.

For example, homeowners with a home worth $300,000 and a car worth $30,000 can expect to pay about $16 more per month, which equates to about $200 per year.

Community perspectives

The bond referendum has sparked differing opinions within the community. Some groups advocated for its approval, while others urged residents to vote against it.

• Here is a Facebook group advocating for the bond.
• Here is a Facebook group that opposes the bond.

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