City of Beaufort voters can decide if they want the city to sell general obligation bonds to finance up to $15 million over a period not to exceed 20 years for a new municipal complex.

The up to $15 million in general obligation bonds will help pay for the construction of a new City Hall and the police/courts building as well as fund the expansion of the Ribaut Road fire station.

If voters don’t approve the referendum for general obligation bonds then, given the essential nature of the project, the City will be faced with more expensive financing alternatives resulting in higher interest rates and greater cost to the taxpayer.

Right now, government for the City of Beaufort is in six locations and the new complex would consolidate City offices such as Police, Courts, Planning, Inspections, and Administration to one location. The new complex will be more centrally located to a greater majority of Beaufort residents and provide better services as well as more parking, easier access, better building design and energy efficiency, and be in line with Beaufort’s Land Use Plan and Boundary Street Master Plan.

If you own a home in the City of Beaufort that is assessed at $100,000 it will cost you, based on current interest rate, $72 a year.

The City, through the referendum, cannot exceed $15 million or 20 years.

Yes. Over the past few years the City has set aside $5.5 million in cash.

If voters approve the referendum construction could begin immediately. On August 3 the City of Beaufort issued Leopardo Construction—the low bidder for the municipal complex--a Limited Notice to Proceed with initial steps (not construction, but initial planning such as looking at those items that may have a long lead time for orders) for the police/courts building portion of the complex at a maximum price of $6,495,000 excluding alternates.

Just like everybody else, the City is faced with higher costs than in 2001 due to rising costs for construction and materials.

The City first commissioned a study in 2001 that indicated a need to build a new complex and expand the fire station at Ribaut Road. There have also been subsequent studies. Financing has been the main issue. Voters had an opportunity to finance a portion of the municipal complex a few years ago as part of Beaufort County’s one cent capital projects sales tax referendum but the referendum failed. Since that time the City has looked at other financing options.

No. As the result of ongoing study and the analysis by Liollio Associates, Inc., (a Charleston-based architectural firm) the City believes it has more than adequately prepared for current and future needs. For example, the new Police headquarters building will include 7,167 square feet that will be leased space in the near term, but that space is where the Police Department can grow in future years, as necessary.

The City plans to sell the current City Hall and Carnegie buildings and use the proceeds towards the new municipal complex. The $107,000 per year rent that the City is currently paying for other City offices such as the police department will, after completion of the new municipal complex, be saved.

The City looked at that possibility and found that doing this project in its entirety would not only minimize the footprint but ensure continuity. Using one architectural firm and one construction company instead of phasing with different firms will help the City prevent differences in installations, help ensure greater cost efficiency as well as provide continuity in mechanical, electrical, sprinkler, and plumbing systems. Continuity in the mechanical, electrical, sprinkler and plumbing systems ultimately will lower maintenance costs because they will have similar replacement parts and service contracts.

Yes, the buildings have been designed and will be built to withstand winds of 130MPH. They will be built of brick and steel, yet they are of classical design and will include many state of the art energy saving features.