Registered voters in the James Island Public Service District will decide today whether a new municipality should be formed on James Island.

The proposed town would have nearly 20,000 residents, and would be Charleston County's fourth-largest municipality.

The more than 16,000 James Island residents who live within the Charleston city limits would remain in the city, and won't be voting.

Supporters think that forming a new town would give residents of the unincorporated areas more local control over planning and zoning rules, the tax benefits available to municipalities, and a greater voice in their government.

Opponents say that a new town would create a new layer of bureaucracy that would ultimately mean more taxes, and they think any new town would end up being dissolved by the courts, just as two prior incorporations were reversed.

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at four PSD fire stations.

Voters in precincts 1A, 1B and 3 will vote at 1833 Folly Road.

Precincts 5A, 5B, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 17 vote at 853 Harbor View Road.

Precincts 6, 7, 8A, 8B, 9, 10 and 15 vote at 1622 Camp Road.

Precincts 19, 20 and 22 vote at 78 Plymouth Ave.

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