Letters to the Editor
Friday, June 23, 2006

Everybody pay

I recently read the same old argument regarding the tax legislation that was just passed and asked myself, "What is so hard about understanding the sales-tax increase versus the property tax?" I really don't think I am over-simplifying the issue.

Why is it so unrighteous to expect everyone to help pay for the education of children? I don't have any children, but I don't mind paying taxes to educate children.

I also don't see anything wrong with non-property owners helping with the cost of educating their children by paying into the tax system by paying sales taxes.

The wealthy will pay even more in sales taxes, and they can afford to. I'm not jealous of the wealthy, nor do I want a socialistic society where everyone is on a fair playing field and everyone "deserves" this or that. That's not the way our system works.

Let everyone contribute in some way for the education of children and the operation of government, then we will have a level playing field, and we can all claim what we deserve.

Sylvia Watts
132 Sawmill Court
Summerville

This article was printed via the web on 6/23/2006 9:45:02 AM . This article
appeared in The Post and Courier and updated online at Charleston.net on Friday, June 23, 2006.

P&C
5-17-06

Real tax problem

The Columbia "two step" is alive and well in the South Carolina Senate. The proposed "tax relief package" is a farce. It does nothing to solve the real problem. This is window dressing for public consumption. The property tax problem is serious and the taxpayers of this state deserve a serious tax relief plan. The House should reject the Senate proposal outright.

GEORGE E. MALANOS, M.D.
69 E. Bay St

Reprinted with permission

-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Schager [mailto: tschager@peoplepc.com
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 7:17 AM
To: SFI@scsenate.org
Subject: Property Tax Reform
Importance: High

Senator Leatherman,

First off, let me say that I am probably one of those people you folks would
consider one of the "Rich People".  I was smart enough to see a trend about
20 years ago and bought as much property as I could possibly afford in Upper
Greenville County(16 acres and a pretty dumpy house) and a small lot on
Edisto Island.  It was really tough making ends meet for a while, but the
sacrifice was worth it when one considers that all of this was done as part
of a "grand plan" for retirement.  You see, I love South Carolina and wanted
to make both of my retirement homes - one in the Lowcountry and the other at
the base of the Escarpment - SC addresses.

So now I have a couple of properties that are considered to be worth a
pretty hefty chunk of change.  Question is, unless I sell them where is the
windfall of cash you folks feel I have as a wealthy taxpayer?  The net
worth, if simply tied to real estate means only two things.  First, if I
expect to realize a net gain in liquid cash and the associated wealth, I
have to cancel my "grand 30 year plan" and the vision of retirement is
dashed.  Is this your intent, Senator? Second, if I keep both places, I get
taxed so severely that retirement gets pushed out and at the rate we're
going, may only be a partial retirement because I'll have to at least work
part of the year to pay taxes.  Again, is this your intent, Senator?

I am watching with close attention to the way you vote in this session with
regard to Property Tax Reform.  I am a registered voter in Colleton County
but mark my words, I will do everything in my power to unseat you in the
coming elections should you not support reform.   This, sir, is not a
threat.  It is a promise.  We are sick of the myopic view you and your
like-minded cronies have taken.

So, you say you have not received any email supporting property tax reform.
Unless you are simply not reading your email, this is no longer a claim you
are able to make.

Good day.

Terry Schager

Honorable Larry A. Martin
311 Gressette Bldg.
Columbia, SC 29202

Dear Senator Martin,

I was in the Senate balcony yesterday as property tax relief was debated. I am very disappointed in the positions taken by you and Senator Leatherman.

It was obvious you were doing all you could to stop any legislation proposed that would give property tax relief to home owners. Your questioning of Senator Knotts was particularly disturbing. You first questioned the constitutionality of his proposals. You then began the troubling harangue that only the affluent living in homes valued at more than 100K would benefit from property tax relief.

Poor people live in homes that have appreciated in value to the point that they can not afford to pay their property taxes. This is especially true of retired people living on fixed incomes. Your positions do great damage to these people. I am fed up with the popular political positions of “stick it to the rich”. We are poor people living in homes that cause us to be taxed like the “rich”.

So, who needs property tax relief? Those paying property tax need property tax relief. Your position opposes legislation similar to House 4449 which would help those paying property taxes. Why are you so concerned about those who presently pay no or minimal property tax and so unconcerned about those of us who are paying onerously high property taxes?

Our homes are essential to livelihood. The proposed sales tax increase of 2%, to pay for property tax relief, will be on other items except food. I must have a home to live in, but with discretionary spending I can limit my purchases to only what I can afford. This is a much more fair tax. If you are so concerned about the affluent “not paying their fair share”, who do you think will be paying most of the sales tax increase – those with discretionary funds who can afford to buy goods and services.

Home owners need property tax relief. Please help us solve this problem.

Sincerely,

Roy Parker                                    cc: Senator Hugh Leatherman
118 Beechcreek Court                        Senator Jake Knotts
Lexington, SC 29072                          Senator Ronnie Cromer
royparker38@earthlink.net                Senator Larry Grooms

803-603-8988

Senator, thank you for your timely response.  I'm very glad to hear that you are there to represent your constituents and not special interest groups, because that is exactly who we are – your consituents.  Taxpayers are voluntarily joining nohometax.org by the thousands.  The only "special interest" we have is the taxpayers who are like-minded in their quest to own their homes free and clear without the fear of being assessed out of their ability to "pay up" to the tax collector.  If you want to benefit the less than wealthy, then tax the wealthy on their consumption since the top 5% of incomes pay over 50% of the taxes anyway.  Just because one lives in a high valued home does not mean one is wealthy.  There are over 1,000 families in SC with incomes less than $15,000 a year, living in and owning homes valued at $1,000,000 or more.  If the sales tax was raised by 2%, the food tax lowered to 2% from I believe it’s 5%, and renters were given a break, you cannot tell me you couldn’t fund school education.  I do not believe there is not an equitable way to give homeowners the tax relief they “deserve” is the new “catch” word I believe.  It is downright criminal that a person never owns their own home free and clear.  Think of it… their HOME.  This is America, this is SC… of which I am a native and just this morning coming to work when I saw “Native” on the back of a SC car I thought:

“… nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina!”I hope that will still be true in the future.

 We at nohometax.org will not resort to what Nashville, Tennessee did on Friday the 13^th, 2001.  See the attached articles and/or do a search of “Tax Revolt in Nashville, Tennessee.”  Our only alternative is to resort to newspaper, radio, and television ads and organize your constituents so that you will do the right thing by voting for permanent tax relief on our homes.  More than 250,000 households are asking you to do that.

 Senator Jake Knotts’ email hits increased from his consistent 1,000 to 8,000 Wednesday (the second day our radio ad ran) and our hits on nohometax.org have increased.

Special Interest?  It’s “special” alright… and Senator… your constituents are just getting cranked up.  And don’t forget that many of us have family members that live all across this wonderful State, so it’s not just your district.  Thank you in advance for working to make every SC homeowner a true HOMEOWNER.

April 19, 2006

Barbara S. Williams, Editor
The Post & Courier
Fax: 937-5545

     Once again Jon Butzon, the self-appointed, self-anointed “Executive Director” of the Charleston Education Network complains about the conservative portion of the Charleston County School Board.  He asserts that you taxpayers don’t actually pay for Alternative Financing that’s already costing you $380M more than the $175M bond referendum you approved.  And now you are going to be paying for over $116M more of Alternative Financing just recently approved by the board majority.  Bottom line?  You approved $175M and the board found a way to stick you with over $670M.  Well, taxpayers, there ain’t no free lunch.  But don’t listen to me.  Listen to Mr. Butzon. 

    We pay our own professional “Executive Director” the highest government salary in South Carolina but I guess we need Butzon & Company to give us his unsolicited opinions?  And he’s always got plenty of them.  A few of them are quite good.  But mostly, he’s about using your tax dollars to salary himself and fund his blog site.  From that site he spews vengeful, vindictive attacks against conservatives like me.  While his blog site says, “dedicated to education,” for the most part, he uses this vehicle to voice his personal disdain for board members who aren’t in sync with his view of the world.  And guess what?  You pay for some of it.   

     Mr. Butzon says he wants to help improve Charleston County Schools.  He’s always at 75 Calhoun Street during our budget and calendar planning meetings.  He’s there saying, “… increase the school year by X amount of days,” and, “… fully fund education in Charleston County by raising taxes and the millage rate.  Spend whatever it takes.” 

     For the uninformed, some of your schools cost as much as $22,800.00 per student.  You pay for that.  And by now, most reasonable individuals realize money isn’t the solution.  Butzon doesn’t.  But why should he?  It’s only money; and, of course, it’s not Mr. Butzon’s money.  Mr. Butzon doesn’t even live in Charleston County.  He doesn’t pay Charleston County taxes.  But he uses your tax dollars under the cover of a non-profit to assail the actions of people like me, an individual you elected to represent your views.  

     So I am going to ask you taxpayers (who might not realize you are paying part of Mr. Butzon’s salary) to ask him why he doesn’t improve Berkeley County schools where he lives?  Or is it that maybe Berkeley County doesn’t want his opinion either.

Sandi Engelman
Member, Charleston County School Board

Monday, April 10, 2006

Property Taxation and Public Schools – An Unnatural Union
By Tim Moultrie

We are all familiar with the refrains coming from any frank discussion of public education. Epidemic social promotion, flat SAT scores, expanding bureaucracy, inequity in funding, outrageous expense, lack of parent choices, and the absence of fiscal restraint; all of these problems stem from the same root cause: government’s addiction to property taxation.

Correcting the problems demands nothing less than a paradigm shift in the way we think about and fund local government and public education. For the sake of our state and her young people we must end the epidemic of social promotion. For the sake of homeowners we must reassert the right of South Carolina’s citizens to own their homes.

Property taxes currently provide the lion’s share of funding for public education. The bills presently in the General Assembly unfortunately offer the citizens the worst of all worlds. They leave some form of taxation attached to homes. This is the proverbial camel’s nose in the tent. If our prior experience is any indication the recent slate of bills will only result in the citizens being saddled with additional sales taxes and rising property taxes.

This leads us to the reason why property taxation is such a fundamentally poor mechanism to fund government services like public schools. It is in the nature of property taxes to discourage fiscal restraint. Unlike consumption or sales taxes, whose revenues grow with the economy, property taxes grow with the wish lists of education bureaucrats. This is the reason property taxes can easily grow 100-500% between reassessments.

Unfortunately, 100-500% increases in property taxes do not equate to parallel increases in SAT scores and graduation rates. However, they do equate to increases in spending. Education bureaucrats cannot force students to learn, SAT scores to rise, or graduation rates to increase. So, they do what they can. They spend more money, produce more paper work, hire more paper shufflers, start more new programs, build more elaborate schools, and lean on teachers to produce artificially inflated “results.”

This leads us to why it is imperative to eliminate residential property taxes entirely and replace them with a statewide sales tax. Since sales taxes grow with the economy they provide a natural mechanism for fiscal restraint. In short, sales tax based funding will force the education bureaucracy to make the choice between growing itself and allowing teachers to teach. Teachers crave being academically honest with regard to student comprehension and mastery. Once again student grades will be earned not issued.

Naturally, restricting the amount of taxpayer money flowing into the system will force the education bureaucracy to restructure its spending. Issuing passage quotas to teachers, spending on wasteful programs like PACT when the PSAT/SAT are nationally normed and recognized tests, forcing students who have no interest in academics to remain in college preparatory classes, and standing in the way of real parent choice will no longer be the priorities they are today to the ponderous education bureaucracy.

Sales tax based funding will also take the wind out of the sails of the newest deceit devised by school districts. The 1.3 billion dollar new school building bill faced by Greenville County property owners is a prime example. Private shell corporations have been created to borrow beyond the 8% legislative cap. These schemes void the spirit of the law and leave property owners defenseless to the spending designs of council members and well-connected builders.

Fortunately, if we can muster the political will to make tough decisions, the solutions to the problems facing public education and homeowners are relatively simple. Eliminating property taxes and replacing their revenues with a sales tax is the first step. If we then create an Education Trust Fund to disperse these monies on a per student basis, South Carolina will meet its constitutional obligation and finally resolve the equal funding dispute that has plagued us. Similar Trusts can be constructed to fairly disperse monies to local governments to meet their obligations.

The statewide crisis in public education has lasted for decades. We must stop the engine that drives this cycle. To accomplish our goal we must recognize how those problems are related to each other and have the political will to explore new and sound solutions.

Tim Moultrie is a 42 year old father of two.

He is currently seeking the post of State Superintendent of Education. http://SuperEd.org

He is also on the board of StopTax.org. http://StopTax.org

He has a Bachelor of Science in Experimental Psychology and a Master of Arts in Teaching.

He has been a counselor for children and young people with special needs in conjunction with USC, the Tri-Development Center, and the Babcock Center.

He has also been teaching College Preparatory and Honors Classes in public schools for more than a decade.

POST AND COURIER
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2006 12:00 AM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We all pay

In the 18-plus years of living here, the issue of sales taxes has been raised numerous times.

Sometimes we were told, "Don't worry, the tourists will pay it," as if somehow the tax knew the difference. I don't recall any mention then of a negative impact on the poor.

In fact, I recall the argument that the recent half-cent sales tax increase would help the poor by keeping CARTA afloat. There also would be the benefits of green space that we all could enjoy. It seems to me, regardless of the intended use, a fair segment of the poor still have to pay the increased tax.

Fast forward to today and the debate regarding reducing property taxes with a sales tax increase. Once again, the inference is made of an overly adverse impact on the poor, while relieving wealthy homeowners of their tax responsibility.

It also is necessary to remember that not all homeowners are wealthy.

I believe at least one proposal would eliminate taxes on food and prescription medicine. It seems to me that might very well be a benefit to the poor. Also, an increasing number of Internet sales companies are collecting state sales taxes already, and there is no doubt that number will increase.

The fact that in one calendar year, taxes can double, or more, seems beyond explanation. What doubling of benefits do we see?

Look at the numbers. The half-cent sales tax has been collected for less than a year and the local councils and CARTA are debating how to divide a sum of money that starts with the letter B - as in billion. This is from a half-cent for less than a year? How much could two cents amass in the same time?

How does a half-cent generate that kind of money so fast?

The point is that we will all pay, rich and poor alike, just maybe not the same amount. And nobody will be in jeopardy of losing their home to taxes or be forced to put a lien on their home just to pay taxes, or to put off taxes until they sell, and then have to give all or most of the accrued equity to the tax man.

DAVID L. FORTIERE,
1761 Atlantic Ave.,
Sullivan's Island

From: not-a-number@webtv.net

The clamor for statewide property tax reform has reached a crescendo that many within the governmental establishment would have previously thought improbable.

Within the last decade, seeds of discontent were carelessly sown as local government and education found it easier to abuse their powers of taxation. Many elected councils and boards abandoned common sense and allowed themselves to be led by assertive administrators and
superintendents into a pattern of spending and kingdom-building that has reaped upon themselves a most unpleasant, consequential harvest. They not only planted those seeds, they unwittingly fertilized them at every opportunity.

Little did they think their derelictions would so quickly come home to roost. Considering that local elected officials across the state allowed cumulative property taxes on South Carolina's homes to virtually double within three years time, just how could these "visionaries" expect
anything but public outcry and taxpayer uprising? They need to think about that when they next look in the mirror.

So here we find ourselves. Hardly a day goes by without the South Carolina property tax issue being front page news in at least one of the state's major newspapers. Add to that two articles in the Wall Street Journal and one each USA Today and AARP's monthly publication. It is serious, both to us as South Carolina's homeowners and to the outside media looking on.

Not amazing within our present state of local governments in South Carolina, the guilty parties attempt to be the last to take blame for the situation. The henchmen of these perpetrators - the representative associations (often funded with direct and indirect public tax dollars) that represent schools, counties and municipalities – are busy at work blaming others and plotting strategy to maintain the status quo. The status quo is exactly what has financially driven many taxpaying homeowners all across the state to their knees. During last weeks legislative subcommittee meetings on property taxes, the establishment hacks were present testifying as to why the system should be left alone – as is.

All the expected representatives of government and education were there defending their positions – the main one being that their particular governmental entity was the one that couldn't be funded by a sales driven tax system. Furthermore, we were even told how impossible it
would be for some counties to roll back assessments to only 2004. (It is amazing how quickly some local governments could and supposedly destroy tax records). Likely excuse, but I don't buy it. These problems can be worked through. Look at the salaries drawn by these certain, capable professionals. That alone should attest to the intellectual abilities of these people. Your cohorts caused the problem. Surely you both could solve it, right? My message to all the naysayers is simple. During election time we have choice of the (often self-proclaimed) brightest and best who say they will represent the taxpayers. Many declare – directly or indirectly – that they are super qualified for the positions of leadership they seek. And, given that many of them are at least marginally proficient in the business world, they should have the wherewithal to guard our tax dollars prudently.

So while acknowledging their declared talents prior to election, they should, after the election, all work together to find a permanent solution to the problem that the assess and tax system has brought to bear upon us. But realistically, the locally elected will never (on their own) do
such. Nor will the state's lawmakers ever allow real reform to be implemented without a roaring, collective voice of the people.

So it is simple, taxpayers of South Carolina. Demand meaningful and permanent tax relief through the elimination of property taxes on our homes, or prepare to each year pay more and more to the point of true financial disaster. Based on the recent trends in government spending,
it is only a matter of time should things remain as they now are. Go to www.nohometax.org. Get involved and take an active roll in this important matter. Speak up strongly and loudly, NOW! Or suffer for decades to come for not having done so.

POST AND COURIER
THURSDAY, MARCH 09, 2006 12:00 AM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tax dominos

Some think that the domino effect justifies more studies being made prior to tax relief. Those types should wake up and look around because the dominos have already been blasted and scattered on the floor. What additional studies could justify stealing someone's home? At one time you could live in the woods if necessary, but today it's all private property. If you sleep in the streets, they will jail you.

We need to remove those greedy things called politicians, who have automatic pay increases and are capable of double-talking in wingdings to steal citizen's homes.

It is neat that mortgage companies and school boards allow people's names to be put on pieces of paper and label them property owners. Some say that most property owners are financially secure and actually own their homes. I doubt that and would like to read that survey.

Each person should have a natural birthright to personal survival. They should be able to cut back on spending and utilities to survive, but it is not possible.

The 7 percent sales tax is the only solution because it allows a person without money to survive. Some are worried about the 2 percent tax increase on tourists. It's obvious that tourists are not cutting back, or else they wouldn't be touring.

ROBERT BULLWINKEL SR.

The Post and Courier
CHARLESTON.NET
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

FEBRUARY 3, 2006

Faced with selling

Regarding the letter on new welfare recipients, my family has paid taxes in South Carolina for more than 200 years. Currently, I pay over $1,000 a year in school taxes alone. My child has been out of high school for 18 years.

My marital status changed last year, and with this year, I'm facing the prospect of having to sell my home. I could keep it if I didn't have the added expense of high property taxes attached to my mortgage payment.

The mortgage and insurance would be manageable. With the influx of families moving into South Carolina, property values have escalated, but the trade-off is the loss of our natural resources, our customs that are indigenous to this area, crowded highways, the once common art of politeness and, last but not least, our colloquial language.

Let me assure the writer, I don't expect him to pay for my groceries or car payment. In the words of my mother, let him mind his own little red wagon.

Jenny Eason
111 West Park Lane
Summerville

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2006 12:00 AM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Seeking equity

I recently read a letter to the editor in which the writer stated that if a homeowner does not want to pay his property taxes then he is a freeloader and creating an added burden on society. I must take exception.

It seems to some that those of us who manage to budget, scrimp and save to be able afford the freedom of owning our own piece of the world should be able to budget more to pay for community services.

I have a very difficult time rationalizing why I should have to help pay CEO-level salaries to school administrators who run a failed education system. Why should I have to subsidize non-owners' children's education? Why should I pay for public education at all while paying private school tuition to get my child a greater than substandard education? Why should I subsidize those making income on their business property when I already have to pay to keep my home?

I and most homeowners are not looking for a handout. We are only seeking equity.

We have no special services or added benefits. We get the same quality police and fire protection as anyone else. We use the same infrastructure as anyone else. So why should we, who have done without and planned ahead, be forced to bear the burden of the taxes alone?

Maybe a sales tax is not the solution, maybe it is. One thing is for sure, anyone who is forced to lose their home after all that hard work because of property taxes is another sad testament to the loss of value that the struggling blue-collar worker has to society as a whole.

Chuck Miller
165 Queen Drive
Ridgeville

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2006 12:00 AM

Relief please

Recently, a letter writer stated, "If a person decides prime property is taxed too high, he can sell it and purchase a less expensive home away from prime sites."

What about people like me with local roots who live on property deemed "prime," which has been in my family since the 1800s and don't want to live anywhere else?

I have lived on this land my entire life and hope to die here and pass it on to my children. My grandchildren are the fifth generation to live on this piece of heaven.

My real estate property taxes for 2005 increased 202 percent. This is 38 percent of my annual income.

Property tax relief, please.

W. GRESHAM MEGGETT JR.
1029 Oceanview Road
James Island

GREENVILLE ONLINE

Published: Saturday, January 28, 2006

Why it's a good idea to end property tax

Abolishing property taxes for individuals living in the primary abode is a great idea. Why?

1. It eliminates the possibility of a government taking property from an individual for not paying taxes. Approximately 50 percent of property owners are retired and have lived in their homes for many years. In the last 10 years, the assessment value and the taxes have skyrocketed.

2. Having no property taxes will encourage individuals from other states to relocate to South Carolina. It is very likely that many seniors will locate to South Carolina. They usually have no children, do not commit crimes and are excellent citizens.

3. Having no property taxes will likely cause a housing boom.

4. There will not be a rush to other states like Georgia and North Carolina to buy goods and save on sales taxes. If one buys furniture or a car in another state, one is required by law to pay South Carolina sales tax.

5. The richer counties, like Greenville, are probably going to be required to help the poorer counties with revenue for schools. Sales taxes provide a much fairer way to do this.

Rod Jordan, Simpsonville

Post & Courier - Charleston.net
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2006 12:00 AM

They don't get it

Listen to state Sen. Robert Ford and you will understand the mentality that motivates a lot of lawmakers. He has the audacity to propose that we homeowners pay our taxes in installments. He makes no mention of tax relief, no mention of the hardship on those of us on fixed incomes. He just doesn't get it!

The Charleston County School Board is proposing to hire a lobbyist with our tax money. What is wrong with this picture? Where in the world did they get the power to use our tax money to hire a lobbyist against us? Does this tell anybody what is wrong with our school system?

And then we hear stories that they don't have enough money to buy the schoolchildren enough books, pencils and paper. They just don't get it. We want tax relief. Homeowners, when it comes time to vote: remember the taxes.

GEORGE M. GRIEVE
316 Pinewood Drive
Santee

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2006 12:00 AM

Blank check

I'm writing regarding the article in a recent Post and Courier that Charleston County School District administrators will be receiving pay raises.

Is that why the taxes on my home almost tripled? Somehow, I thought the increase was to bring Charleston County schools up to standard.

Again, the Charleston County School Board has been given a blank check and will use the taxpayers' money as if they were on a shopping extravaganza.

Raises should be given for merit and performance, not to bring administrators up to "market standards." Many taxpayers' work below "market standards," but will ultimately pay for the luxuries and comforts of "the administrators."

Are the raises being given so that the "administrators" can pay the increased taxes on their homes or for performance and accountability in their jobs? In my opinion, it certainly is not for performance and accountability.

I am sure that what insufficient amount is left over after the administrators reward themselves for a job so poorly done will go to the children.

Geralyn Boxx
645 Stono Edge Drive

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2006

Hard to believe

It is hard to believe that members of the school board authorized our tax money to lobby against those of us who pay property taxes and put them in office. Need I say more.

Herman B. Speissegger, Jr.
102 Murray Blvd.

Tax Change Needed

As a former resident of the Charleston area for more than 20 years, I still keep up with the many friends I have from that area and also read The Post and Courier daily on the Internet. I notice that hardly a day goes by that there isn’t a letter to the editor on the subject of property taxes.

After moving to Florida 10 years ago, I realized I got a lot more bang for my buck than I ever did in South Carolina – no taxes on groceries and automobiles, no state income tax, no intangible tax or taxes on your retirement.

I realize that property values are on the rise nationwide, therefore property taxes are being increased on properties and raising the tax burden on the property owners whose incomes might not be able to keep up with the rate of the increase.

Perhaps a freeze on property taxes would be justified based on the owner’s income and age. I have seen this scenario implemented in other states, and it seems to work very well.

I miss Charleston and do come there to visit on occasion. Moving back to Charleston is not in my script at the present time.

However, it could be if some major changes were to take place.

CHARLIE SZAD
407 Rossi Way
Pensacola, FL

CHARLESTON.NET
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2006 12:00 AM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tax cancers

A surgeon opens up his patient in the operating room. His mission is to remove cancer from his patient. He arbitrarily decides to remove only half of the tumor and closes. What might we expect a little bit down the road?

Transfer this reasoning to the property tax issue being considered in Columbia. One of the most popular concepts is reducing that tax in return for a 1 percent increase in the state sales tax. If we allow that to happen, we should all be locked up for extreme imbecility. Like the cancer left in the patient, you can bet that property taxes would climb right back up to where they were, and then we'd have the extra sales tax to boot.

The numbers have already been crunched. For that same 2 percent sales tax increase - as in a fair tax - we can completely abolish all property taxes, as well as all income taxes, and exempt everyone from taxes on basic necessities. Leaving property taxes in place, in any form, is like leaving the fox in charge of the henhouse. They must be surgically (constitutionally) removed.

As a state, we have just seen that we rank at or near the bottom of the heap educationally, economically and we have high unemployment. Yet we hang on to the income tax. Texas and Florida have no income tax. They are the seventh and 11th largest economies in the world.

The only folks who profit from the property or income tax are the politicians and the special interest groups. Why? Because they are complicated and can be tinkered with - the perfected art of smoke and mirrors.

The sales tax is transparent and hanky-panky is easily detectable. Eliminating these twin cancers unleashes the power of South Carolina and puts us in a position to show the world who we really are. We all need to chat with our legislators.

DICK WHITFIELD
2213 Salt Wind Way
Mount Pleasant

GoUpstate.com
Article published Jan 27, 2006

Property Taxes

Chattie S. Hart, Inman

I am 80 years old. I have raised five children and educated them to live full, productive lives. This was accomplished with no government help, and it bugs me to see the wasteful monies being spent in our school system today. But what bugs me more are the high property taxes we are paying for school support.

I worked two jobs for nearly 40 years and was able to save enough by retirement to build a nice home on Lake Bowen. I moved here from Charleston, where I had a fine brick home with all public services including garbage pickup, regular police patrolling, street lights, fire protection, etc. Here in Spartanburg County, where I don't have as many public services, my property taxes are three times as great as my Charleston property taxes.

I have no children in the public school system. My husband and I feel financially secure, but if they do not give us some relief from property taxes, we stand to be forced to move to another area with lower property taxes. Also, why does Spartanburg County need seven school superintendents, with each pulling down a big salary?

They say they are working to either eliminate or lower property taxes. The only fair tax is the sales tax, with exemptions for food, medicine and the essentials of the working class. Instead, increase the tax on such luxuries as cars, boats, televisions, liquor, cigarettes, etc.

This whole thing is politics as usual, and I am probably wasting my time complaining -- that is, unless those who read this care enough to complain, too. Do you?

Letters to the Editor
Sunday, January 22, 2006

Tax rip-off

Is it me or has anyone in South Carolina noticed that we are paying more in taxes? We have some of the lowest wages in the nation and high unemployment, and we are not creating jobs that pay enough to support a family and pay the bills.

Hotel jobs are not going to help a family live comfortably.

The people of the state had better remember this when they go to elect their politicians.

I guarantee you the politicians are not struggling to pay their electric bills or buy food and their kids are in a good school system, to say the least.

We have a lottery so why are we still paying property taxes on a vehicle?

Most of us own our cars, but we are still paying for them every year.

South Carolina may be the hospitality state, but it is ripping its citizens off every day.

Terri Davis
171 Southwold Circle
Goose Creek

Subj: South Carolinians should beware of 'property tax' gift
Response to article on GreenvilleOnline.com
1/5/2006 1:53:57 PM Eastern Standard Time
From:  tschager
To: rdanner@greerstatebank.com
CC: LuSwinton@aol.com
Sent from the Internet

Mr. Danner,

Yours was an interesting article in the News on January 1, 2006 and a lot
of it makes sense.  You missed a couple of critical points, however.  If
Home Rule is the answer to Government and the sacred right of
municipalities, how is it that 79% of my property tax bill up in
Gowensville is designated for Spartanburg County schools (I live in
Greenville Co. and pay school taxes to Spartanburg), our state educational
system ranks collectively at or near the bottom of state rankings (thank
God for Mississippi) and throwing more and more money at the problem over
the years has done nothing to improve the situation?

Home rule seems to work well for road improvements (well, except for that
darn light that has never been set  up to change on demand by road sensors
at Hwy 14 and Main Street in Greer), beautification projects and cityscape
initiatives which Greer has done a fantastic job in pulling off.  Let the
state set a curriculum, manage the educational system and put all areas of
the State's educational system on equal footing.  Get the schools out of my
pocket and get decent oversight in place to fix this mess.  Throwing money
at it has not and will not work because the local administrations through
your beloved Home Rule have wasted millions and stifled the most valuable
resource of our State; the children and young adults to whom we will hand
all of this over.

You state that property taxes should be a local issue.  If this is the
case, it would be up to groups at the county or municipal level to endorse
and enforce the needed change you agree needs to happen.  Mr. Danner, when
was the last time you consistently saw municipal level initiatives address
such a serious matter as this?  Do you honestly think that grass roots
organizations would be able to negotiate change in the fragmented
environment you endorse?  Is this the reason for your position?  As a
member of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, do you think it may
be remotely possible that your opinion and sense of direction may be a
little protectionistic?

As you say in the editorial, "we are dangerously close to rescinding 30
years of Home Rule by default".  There are those of us who look at this as
30 years of Home Rule as an experiment gone horribly wrong when the taxes
collected during the period of Home Rule have multiplied and our
educational system is still ranked at the bottom in state rankings.  Can
you tell me where the benefit and further justification of this system is,
given these factors?

If, as you say, Schools are not part of the Home Rule act and the burden of
funding education is a state responsibility, let the state set the
curriculum, uniformly enforce and fund it and uniformly manage our schools
at the State level.  You yourself say the system needs rework.  Your
statements of special interests and the unfair distribution of state
education funds is purely speculative, an unlikely scenario and is in no
way based on anything factual. Stop it.

The problem, Mr. Danner, has little to do with funding.  The real problem
would seem to be the distribution of funds, their economical and prudent
usage, fiscal responsibility and a real desire to improve our lot with
regard to state rankings.  All the money in the world is not going to fix
this problem, no matter where it originates, until the people responsible
for its use really want to improve.

I do agree with you on one key point.  Before we throw the major source of
funding for education under the bus, we should look closely at the funding
source going forward by the legislators.  Yes, a complete overhaul of how
the money is spent and better oversight needs to be put in place to prevent
waste.  We should build a reserve (I've heard numbers of an existing $500MM
+ reserve existing from tax payment overages) that would be used as a
buffer for the interim in order to make sure adequate funding is available.

Please understand, my wife and I have no children and have lived in
Greenville County for over 20 years.  I am not against paying property
taxes and certainly feel we owe our children a good education to prepare
them to take us forward and advance this great State.  A friend of mine on
Edisto Island put it rightly when they said "I don't mind spending money
but I sure hate wasting it".  As a banker, I hope you can relate!

Good day, Sir.

Terry Schager

The Post and Courier

Letters to the Editor
November 30, 2005

Fiscal folly

The Nov. 15 Post and Courier headline says "Tax Proposals Aid Wealthy Most."

Ignored and problematic is the ugly truth that this tax plan does nothing to control government spending. It does nothing more than shift where the money comes from. The dollars flowing from you and me to the free-spending government remain the same.

That a law requires property to be reassessed periodically should draw riotous rancor from property owners. Why? Simple. Our elected representatives have legislation that requires tax increases.

Why not pass legislation that requires income increases for taxpayers?

Ludicrous? Yes. But so is legislation that requires tax increases.

Government needs to operate with the same fiscal responsibility that responsible people run their homes with. Unfortunately, until enough of the population voices this very real and immediate need, we will continue to be plundered by an out of control government.

NICK AVERA
4528 Parishville Road

Call for fair tax

Regarding the number of letters criticizing high property taxes and the ridiculously high school taxes, the groundswell of resentment is encouraging. And I am delighted that people really do have a problem with our present forms of taxation.

People are genuinely compelled to spend the time necessary to protest by writing to the editors of The Post and Courier, and expressing their anger with our punitive, degenerative, and immoral methods of taxation.

Other than writing letters to the editor, what else are you doing about it? Are you saturating your elected representatives with phone calls and letters? Are you demanding town-hall meetings? Are you putting your elected officials on notice?

The founding fathers of South Carolina were clear in explaining who has political power in this state. They installed a preamble to our state constitution that clearly explains who the power brokers really are: "all political power is vested in and derived from the people only, therefore, they have the right at all times to modify their form of government."

It takes much more than letters to the editor to make change happen. It takes the intestinal fortitude to step forward and lead. The time for meaningful change is right now. Ripping our current tax code out by the roots and throwing it into the trash heap of history is the only real solution

A fair tax (HR25/S25) at the local, state, and federal level is a great way to fix the problem. Don't squander the political power you have. Do something about it!

The Post & Courier - Charleston.net

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2005 12:00 AM

Taxing reality

Your banner headline Nov. 15, "Tax proposals aid wealthy most," is incorrect, misleading, and irresponsible. Simply because of its location, my home is valued at more than $600,000.

My income is not $300,000 but less than $60,000 (before income and self employment taxes). I do not own a beach house. I buy used cars, do my own house and yard work, and am still working part time at age 68 in order to pay my property taxes.

If I am wealthy or rich, more than 75 percent of American citizens must be wealthy or rich, and the terms are meaningless.

There is no relationship between the skyrocketing value of property and the ability to pay taxes on that property. It is precisely this problem which has generated the uproar. No doubt there are countless examples of citizens in Charleston County whose property is worth more than $1 million and whose income is less than mine.

A person should not be forced to sell a home in order to pay property taxes. Your newspaper has consistently contributed to the "us" vs "them" mentality by implying that those whose property has skyrocketed in value have a corresponding ability to pay property taxes. This is simply not true.

MARILYN H. LONG
1797 Clark Hills Circle
Johns Island

Charleston Mercury
November 10, 2005

Dear Editor:

If you have not already been negatively impacted by our state’s unfair, escalating property tax system, you will be. Many of our citizens on fixed incomes are in real jeopardy of losing their homes under our current system.

I am often surprised when I talk with people who wish to register complaints or become involved with Property Tax Reform, but do not know where to start. Perhaps the following suggestions will help.

• Know who represents you in the House of Representatives and State Senate. Your legislators’ names and contact information can be obtained through the www.scstatehouse.net website under Citizens’ Interest. Insert your nine digit Zip Code and call, e-mail or write your representatives.
• You need not provide specific suggestions when you contact your Legislators. Just explain that you want relief from property taxes. Some friends have expressed they feel intimidated and hesitate to contact representatives who are busy working on important issues. These people have volunteered for public service and should represent your interests. Insist they take action to solve this problem.

In my opinion, unfortunately we do not have the statewide support at this time to eliminate the property tax. We do have a chance, however, to replace the Operating Budget for the School System with a combination of a small sales tax increase, perhaps 2 to 3%, that would not include food, and retooling the many sales tax exemptions that currently exist. That would cut our bills by about 65%. A Constitutional Referendum must be the method of implementing this plan so that future legislators cannot ever again implement this kind of tax without the vote of the people. In addition, the referendum must limit the increase of taxes by cities, counties and other entities to only those granted by voter referendums. Some people will say you can vote out those who raise your taxes, but the strength of an incumbent makes this almost impossible. Because the earliest a referendum could take place is November of 2006, there must also be some quick relief to those being impacted NOW. A tax credit might be a quick, effective solution while the Legislature decides on the best long-term strategy.

An often-heard argument against property tax relief is that this is an attack on public education. On the contrary. This is a way to improve and better fund education. A sales tax would not only provide more equitable funding of our schools, but would render the ongoing suit against South Carolina moot, as all counties would receive the same per pupil revenue. Many “Educrats” will oppose this idea because, in some school systems, overhead will have to be reduced due to bloated bureaucracies.

But, that’s another letter...

It is also important to contact your local city and county officials. They must tell their Lobbyists to stop fighting reform. If Charleston County, ten years ago, had agreed to a plan to hold the annual cost increase for county services to the cost of living, we might be getting a refund now.

But, that is another letter...

Lanneau H. Siegling
lsiegling@comcast.net