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Public Hearing with South Carolina Senators
comes to Edgefield Meeting to be held at STH Edgefielddaily.com web posted August 22, 2005 EDGEFIELD – A joint Public Hearing will be held with members of the SC State Senate from the Judiciary and Finance committees on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at Strom Thurmond High School from 6 to 9 pm in the cafeteria. The purpose of the public hearings is to get citizen input on what should be done to correct the obvious problems in the South Carolina Tax Code. A total of twelve Senators will be present. A study commissioned by S.C. Governor Carroll Campbell reached the conclusion in 1993 that even with needed tax reform in South Carolina; the State still will not have enough money to pay for growth without significant increases in taxes. According to the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, wherever there is growth in South Carolina, there are higher taxes. The cost of growth is compounded further by the fact that local governments rely heavily on the property tax to pay for the services and infrastructure that support development. But there are problems with using the property tax as a base to pay for growth they say. First, the property tax is inelastic and does not grow with a service economy. Second, the property tax base is being depleted as counties give away more incentives to economic development. And finally, changes in state law continues to remove the property tax’s ability to support development. The property tax on cars was flexible because people bought newer or bigger cars but as car taxes are reduced or possibly removed the ability to fund growth is removed. Furthermore, increasing the homestead exemption will also take its toll. Some say the answer is a statewide sales tax and the removal of all property taxes. Walter Dahlgren, of SCNoTax.com, and several other grassroots organizations like Stoptax.org have joined forces to make sure the people of South Carolina understand what the Public Hearing on Tuesday night, August 23, is all about, and it is not just tax reform; it is the elimination of property taxes forever. “We support a Bill, Bill S 880, introduced by Senator David Thomas and it would eliminate all property taxes and replace them with a three per cent sales tax,” Mr. Dahlgren said. The three cent tax would be in addition to the state five cent sales tax. In addition to eliminating property taxes the bill and Constitutional Amendments would tack away local school taxes as well. ”Roughly twenty per cent of sales tax revenues come from tourism,” Mr. Dahlgren said and those monies should be put to use for all the citizens. Some say they like the idea but they do not trust putting the control of all county money in Columbia, “I don’t trust them now, on the county or state level, this would give too few too much power,” said Frank, who would not give his last name. Whatever one’s views are on tax reform in South Carolina, all are asked to attend the Public Hearing. Those wishing to speak or offer their opinions may call 803-212-6627 to be added to the list or may arrive early and sign up the night of the hearing.
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