Charleston County voters strongly endorsed a new half-cent sales tax Tuesday by a 59-41 margin, according to unofficial results.

Local mayors and other sales tax backers chalked up the win to a growing realization that the tax was the best way to address the area's overcrowded roads, dwindling rural lands and a public transit system on life support.

This was the third time county voters decided on the half-cent, but the margins in the 2000 and 2002 races were razor thin.

"I was confident that we would do well. I had no idea that it would be anything like this," said Brian Moody, chairman-elect of The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, which spent $200,000 to persuade voters to back the tax.

Local mayors, who lent strong support to the campaign, expressed joy at the result.

"What a great night this is," Mount Pleasant Mayor Harry Hallman said.

"I think this is such an important pivoting point for our community," Charleston Mayor Joe Riley added. "The citizens have overwhelmingly indicated a commitment to control our destiny, invest in our infrastructure, in a great public transportation system and in protecting our green space."

If the result withstands all challenges, the county's sales tax will rise from 6 percent to 6.5 percent next year. The half-cent will remain in effect for 25 years or until it raises $1.3 billion.

Charleston County Council is required to spend the money on transportation-related projects, such as new roads, bridges and public transit, as well as on greenbelts, including parks and other steps to preserve rural lands.

The tax was defeated narrowly in 2000, and while the vote for it squeaked by in 2002, the S.C. Supreme Court threw out the result because it found the ballot instructions deliberately misleading.

The half-cent vote included two questions: one seeking approval for the tax and another seeking approval for $113 million in bonds for certain road projects, such as improving U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant. If the first question had failed, then the second was moot. Both passed by similar margins.

The county estimates that the half-cent sales tax will cost the average person about $31 more per year and that 30 percent would be paid by tourists and others living outside the county.

Much of the public debate revolved around whether County Council had done enough to reassure voters that the money will be well spent.

The tax is expected to cover the county's $75 million share toward building the new Cooper River bridge, but few other projects are shoo-ins for the money.

Opponents said if the county funds the wrong projects, it could worsen traffic problems and suburban sprawl.

At the urging of the Coastal Conservation League and others, County Council approved an ordinance calling for long-range planning, new citizens advisory groups and other special input before divvying up the bulk of the money.

The league ended up opposing the tax, but it didn't launch an active campaign against it. Eric Meyer of the league said he was optimistic that the turnover on council -- early results showed that the nine-member council will have at least four new members -- bodes well.

"With the new council members, we're feeling better about putting together a real plan that addresses the transportation needs of the county," he said, adding that the league also worked well with Councilman Tim Scott, who won re-election Tuesday.

Scott said council's decisions on spending the tax money will be put under the microscope. "I'm sure we're going to spend an enormous amount of time listening to the citizens, talking to people all over the place."

Tax supporters focused on how it would pay for new roads that would ease congestion but downplayed the reality that the tax also was needed to ensure that the Charleston area will have bus service -- or any public transit -- next year.

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority is expected to run out of money by February. If the tax passes, it can arrange loans to continue operating until the tax collections begin rolling in next year.

Even though tax supporters were winning at the polls, they also must win in court. A lawsuit was filed challenging the ballot language five days ago.

"I think the lawsuit has no merit, and it will be quickly disposed of, as it should be," Riley said.

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