Horry County schools’ penny plans move forward

Perhaps the most-closely watched race Tuesday in Horry County involved no candidate.  It was a referendum for a penny sales tax hike.

None of the results are official yet, but the numbers we have now show that Horry county voters approved the sales tax by more than two to one.
 
Money from the tax will benefit Horry County Schools, Coastal Carolina University, and Horry Georgetown Technical College.
 
Horry County School District public information officer Teal Britton said money from the penny tax will first be used to pay current debt and the next projects will likely be renovating or building elementary schools.
 
Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Elsberry told News13 Tuesday night at election headquarters in Conway, the plan for spending the revenue from the penny was spelled out on the ballot, but what they still need to decide is how they will work with Horry Georgetown Technical College and Coastal Carolina University.
 
Ocean Bay Elementary School Principal Nancy Ward said three years ago, Ocean Bay opened with 650 students.  Today, Ward said they have around one thousand.

“We have continued to grow, not quite as dramatically, but from last year to this year, we gained about another one hundred students.“ said Ward.

Ward said the hallways are so busy sometimes, it’s like trying to get through traffic on Highway 501 during the summer and said Ocean Bay is the perfect place to benefit from revenue from the penny sales tax.

“Obviously more classrooms are needed you know that could come in many ways, they could add additional classrooms to our school and that would assist us in meeting the needs of the students that are here.“ said Ward.

Beginning in March, Horry County taxpayers will start paying the penny that could change the tide at Ocean Bay.

Ward said for now, they can manage the crowded hallways, but look forward to spreading out.