Emerson B. Read,Sr. - Statewide Chairman
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Legislation has been filed: H4784

With this landmark legislation we will see the ELIMINATION of the POINT OF SALE ASSESSMENT, additional savings of 28%-30% for ALL properties; 4% (resident homeowners), 6% (non-resident rental property and second homes) and the complete elimination of property taxes for owner occupants over 65 years of age. (Homesteads) – funded by an additional 1% sales tax.

1. The Tax Relief Bill (H4784) is revenue neutral, substitutes an additional 1% state sales tax resulting in the state sales tax being 7 % which does not include local option taxes, but is still competitive with adjacent states. At Charlotte, NC the sales tax is now 7.25% and is going to 7.5% in October, 2008. This includes local option add ons. The sales taxes on the border of Augusta and Savannah, GA are 7% resulting in South Carolina’s tax still being competitive.
2. Property taxes are still too high. Many families are having to pay property taxes ranging from 20% to 35% or more of their Taxable Income. One family had taxes of 48% of their Taxable Income.
3. An additional sales tax, contrary to opponents, will not hurt businesses. Businesses do not pay sales tax. They imbed them into their cost of goods and services and consumers pay.
4. Many legislators agreed to seek and support additional tax relief after the 2006 legislation was passed. We believed that we had a majority of the Legislature, supporting us, however because of a delay in getting the Bill written and introduced and the Legislature having a full agenda, the Bill is languishing in the Ways and Means Committee.

Sponsoring H4784
Representative Chip Limehouse, Berkeley & Charleston Cos.
Representative Eric M. Bedingfield, Co-Sponsor, Greenville Co.
Representative Fletcher N. Smith, Jr., Co-Sponsor, Greenville Co.
Representative Annette Young, Co-Sponsor, Charleston & Dorchester Cos.
Representative Glenn L. Hamilton, Greenville Co.

SC House Ways and Means Committee
Subcommittee Assignments

Contributions are needed to fund our campaign to “turn up the heat” and promote this legislation STATEWIDE IMMEDIATELY. Please donate as much as you possibly can. Together we have done it before and WE CAN do it again. Without your contribution, we cannot prevail. Your contributions go directly to advertising, mailings and website hosting expenses.

Let’s keep moving forward toward our goal!
Please contact me with your questions.

Yours very truly,
Emerson B. Read, Sr.

Contributions should be made payable to:

The following is a message received by NoHomeTax.org from some supporters of property tax relief legislation.

Senators RYBERG, GROOMS, BRYANT and VERDIN

“We voted for H. 4449 and H. 4450 because it contains many positive elements and constitutes a good first step on the issue of property tax relief. The virtual elimination of tax on owner-occupied homes for school operations and most county operations makes a large stride toward real and permanent relief. Moreover, the reduction of the sales tax on groceries from 5% to 3% ensures that roughly $120 million will stay in the taxpayers' pockets and out of Columbia. Finally, the two-day sales tax holiday, that we hope will recur each year, provides further tax relief to every consumer. Nonetheless, this legislation remains only a first step. We must continue the effort next year to provide permanent relief and protection to business and industry, as well as other classes of personal property, and we will proudly support that effort.”

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NoHomeTax.org Mission Statement:

To enable the S.C. Legislature to eliminate taxes on homes and diminish and freeze other real property taxes.

Save Our Homes!

South Carolina homes are in jeopardy. If you own your own home, in another two (2) assessment cycles (five year cycles) your property taxes could easily triple. Remember that more than 75% of the voters are resident homeowners.

The taxes on owner occupied dwellings increased from 450 million dollars to 717 million dollars between 2003 to 2005. Our goal is the permanent elimination of property taxes on homes and to secure that elimination through a Constitutional amendment.

Rollback, tax cuts, and other half measures are NOT an option.

Rationale

The citizens of South Carolina despise the property tax. It is particularly burdensome to the lower middle class, the fixed income elderly, and South Carolina's working poor. It is the only tax directly capable of causing homelessness. In excess of 70% of South Carolina's citizens favor the permanent elimination of this the most hated tax.

Replacement of the property tax with a 2-cent sales tax is both fair and non-regressive, especially with the reduction of the sales tax upon groceries to 2%.

Replacing the property tax will more fairly spread the costs of schools and public services across the entire population of the state. It also provides a mechanism for visitors to our fair state to contribute to its continued wellbeing.

Significant economic investment can be expected as South Carolina becomes more property-friendly. Regional competitiveness with neighboring states will be maintained regarding sales taxes and it will be enhanced in terms of property taxes. Disposable income will increase. Instead of a direct money transfer to the government, citizens will have the opportunity to "use" their money on goods and services first.