Are they really special?

Tax districts benefit few, experts say

DECEMBER 17, 2009 8:58 a.m. (0)

Special tax districts choke businesses by pandering to special interests and politics of the moment, say government, academic and business leaders.

Jim Fields of the Palmetto Institute in Columbia said inequities developed in the tax system over the past 10 to 15 years have penalized business overall, while benefiting some segments disproportionately.

Act 388, which was aimed at easing the tax burden on private real estate by substituting a one percent sales tax, resulted in tax benefits to people who owned homes worth more than $100,000. Business ended up shouldering 42 percent of the property tax burden and governmental bodies of all types (including special tax districts) were forced into a seemingly endless round of tax increases to make up for revenue shortfalls.  Continue reading...

 

The taxing situation

Local governments face low cash flow. Raising fees may be their answer.

FEBRUARY 5, 2010 9:16 a.m. (3)

Fast-growing Greer is poised to become the first local government in Greenville County to significantly raise taxes or fees to make up for revenue shortfalls largely caused by state tax law changes.

Unless there is a wholesale revision in the state tax code, or the Upstate economy suddenly goes into high gear, virtually every resident will eventually face local tax or fee increases, or both, experts say.  Continue reading...

 

The taxing situation

South Carolina considers an overhaul

NOVEMBER 2, 2010 12:00 a.m. (0)

South Carolina’s business community hopes an opening created by a sales and income tax reform study will reopen what it sees as a job-killing shift of the burden of property taxes onto businesses.

When the legislature convenes in January with sentiment growing for overhaul of tax policy, along with required consideration of the study on sales and income taxes, business lobbyists again will push to repeal the law that raised sales taxes to give property tax breaks to homeowners.

Critics argue that 2006 law effectively placed the lion’s share of paying for K-12 education on business and industry, created a shortage in funding for schools, contributed to the state debt and produced a patchwork of sales tax exemptions, the biggest one being the tax on groceries.  Continue reading...

 

Haley: "Join the Movement"

Governor promises to ensure budget cuts don't cause excessive harm

MARCH 10, 2011 1:55 p.m. (0)

Gov. Nikki Haley was blunt during Monday night’s Town Hall Meeting at Greenville Tech; South Carolinians in all walks of life are going to hurt over the budgetary decisions brought on by the recession and past legislative actions.

But she promised to make smart choices and to do all within her power to make sure the cuts do not hurt the least of the state’s citizens excessively.

In a particularly sharp exchange with Henry Harrison, CEO of American Services, over planned increases on unemployment taxes for companies that laid off the most workers during the depths of the recession; Haley said she doesn’t listen to politicians.  Continue reading...

 

Where (tax) credit is due

Census data will change just who qualifies for a federal program that’s helped grow Greenville and Spartanburg

MARCH 23, 2011 3:07 p.m. (0)

Greenville and Spartanburg aggressively are taking advantage of a federal tax credit program to support several high profile developments that would not be possible or would be limited without it.

In its 10th year, the New Markets Tax Credit program was enacted by Congress to stimulate lending for commercial and industrial development in areas designated by census data as having poverty rates of at least 20 percent or populations earning 20 percent less than surrounding median family income.

Large chunks of Greenville and Spartanburg, notably their downtowns, qualified under the 2000 census.  Continue reading...

 

Conservatives want to get the tea party started

Spartanburg tea party focuses on county

JUNE 23, 2011 9:58 a.m. (1)

The Spartanburg Tea Party has turned its attention to the local scene, bringing its grand experiment in smaller government and lower taxes to the county level in a way that even conservative Spartanburg has never seen before, observers say.

In Spartanburg County employees have not had a raise in five years and yet council, with hearty tea party applause, has passed a tax cut for the next fiscal year.

“The last real tax increase we had in my 17 years on council was the road use fee,” said council Chairman Jeff Horton. “But I don’t think the tea party has that much influence with the council itself. We’re a pretty conservative bunch, overall.”  Continue reading...

 

Laws and the New Year

From phone greetings to new holidays, lawmakers will have plenty to talk about in 2012

JANUARY 5, 2012 2:14 p.m. (0)

Drivers would be prohibited from text messaging or talking on cell phones under multiple bills filed in advance of the 2012 South Carolina legislative session.

State Sen. Kevin Bryant, R-Anderson, wants to require applicants for unemployment benefits to pass a drug test before collecting any money and take away benefits for anybody who works part-time.

Sen. Glenn Reese, D-Spartanburg, has proposed “Caylee’s Law,” legislation that would make it a felony to fail to report to law enforcement that a child has gone missing.  Continue reading...

 

State tax cuts will skewer local governments

Legislature, governor tell cities and counties to ‘take a $1 billion whack’

APRIL 12, 2012 12:54 p.m. (0)

Local governments’ dependence on federal tax dollars has been increasing steadily over the past few years as state monies have dried up due to tight budget times and tax code tinkering, local officials say.

South Carolina ranked 49th in overall local and state tax burden by the non-partisan Tax Foundation in 2009, with the average payout by residents totaling $2,742. Only Mississippi ranked lower and Tennessee had a slightly higher overall tax burden.

The Palmetto State is also one of the Deep South states that actually turn a slight profit on the tax dollars it sends to Washington, the foundation reports. In 2005, the last year for which figures are available, South Carolina got back $1.35 for every $1 paid in federal taxes. That trend has gone on uninterrupted since 1981, the foundation said.  Continue reading...