Beaufort SC (2P) FINANCE ADMIN & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (4P) PUBLIC FACILITIES October 19, 2026

Beaufort County Finance, Administration & Economic Development Committee meeting, followed by the Public Facilities Committee, October 19, 2026. Finance discussions included a proposed NAVEX hotline and case-management service for county employees and other reporters; the vendor described a hotline, investigations software and compliance-awareness package, with a quoted cost of $8,679.38. The committee did not award a contract, and the transcript does not establish whether the quote was monthly or annual. The committee advanced the Port Royal MCIP proposal to County Council for first reading on a 6–3 vote, and forwarded state accommodations-tax grant recommendations for Council consideration; the program received 35 applications requesting more than $2.6 million, with $1.6 million available. Members also approved a roughly $6.35 million BRACE project carryover funded from Parks and Recreation impact-fee fund balance, and considered reallocating about $1.545 million in remaining ARPA funds to eligible existing projects. A $30,000 economic-development grant to Beaufort Memorial Hospital was approved; the presentation cited a nearly $30 million hospital investment and 70 planned full-time jobs. The committee also approved recommendations for $398,000 in community-service grants, though members requested more detail about recipients’ proposed uses of funds.

In Public Facilities, members approved a Holly Hill Road construction memorandum of agreement with the Town of Bluffton, under which the county and town would each contribute $1 million. They approved a Broad River Boat Landing float-replacement contract for $197,500 plus a 10% contingency, for a total authorization of $217,250; six bids were received. They also approved a Nix Construction contract for Bailey Memorial Park for approximately $1.982 million with a 20% contingency, with one objection. A roughly $243,000 pedestrian walkway and bridge project at Hilton Head Island Airport was presented for approval, with state aeronautics funding expected to cover 100% pending a grant agreement. Airport hanger site-development work funded through state aeronautics and ARPA was also discussed. The Alljoy drainage study outlined approximately $10 million in short-term improvements, $6.8 million for maintenance-only work, and $50–55 million to address all identified needs; the committee discussed pursuing outside funding and preparing projects for implementation.