Hello Members it is that time of the year again!! We will be having our 18th Annual Legislative Luncheon on April 2nd 2014. U.S. Senator Tim Scott will be speaking via video conference call. The luncheon will be held at the Capitol City Club in downtown Columbia S.C.
Click the link below to download the invitation.
We are pleased to bring to your our first quarter newsletter for 2014!!! Please click the link below to view view the newsletter.
In Lexington County the propose penny sales tax increase is not an easy sale. Many of the citizens in the county want to know how the increased tax will help or hurt them. The penny tax would increase sales tax from 7 percent to 8 percent and up to 10 percent on certain prepared foods.
The sales tax money can virtually be used for any purpose, many county council members would like to see the money generated from the penny tax increase go towards road and bridge improvements throughout the county. The list of proposed project include a water recreation park in Springdale, an Irmo-area complex to train youngsters on safety, a 600-seat performing-arts auditorium at Chapin High School, a welcome center for a park in Cayce, athletic fields and recreation facilities in Dixiana, Gaston, Pelion and Pine Ridge, new town halls for Batesburg-Leesville, Cayce, Gaston, Pelion, South Congaree and Springdale, as well as regional centers for deputies, ambulances and other services near Batesburg-Leesville and in Dixiana.
Lexington County has to do something to address the issues of a growing population. Lexington County has grown by 22 percent over the past ten years making infrastructure a top priority.
The question is whether voters will agree with their proposals for the penny tax increase.
A bill that passed the Senate subcommittee last week will have hospitality tax (H- tax) dollars going to road and bridge repairs throughout the state. State law currently states local government to charge a hospitality tax on prepared food and beverages, there is a restriction on how this money can be spent though. The current law says local government can spend the money collected form hospitality taxes also called H-taxes on road repairs only if the road “provides access to tourist destinations”
The new bill S.912 would change that and allow local government to spent the money on roads that lead to
destinations contribution to tourist activities.” Sen. O’Dell, R-Abbeville said “We think all roads lead to tourist destinations and obviously, there is a need for repairs in the entire state.” He argues that this bill would give local government the opportunity to use H-tax money to make their areas more attractive to tourist.
The full story can be found on thestate.com
S.C. Rep. Bakari Sellers announced this week he will oppose any legislation to raise the gas tax in South Carolina by a Democrat or Republican. Sellers said “We don’t need a gas tax increase. What we need is a serious plan to modernize and streamline our transportation delivery system – and a dedicated source of new revenue to meet prioritized needs, not political favors,”
Sellers said in a statement. “It’s not lack of funding, or taxes that are too low that have caused our roads to fall in disrepair, it’s politicians who have their priorities out of whack. And now, instead of solving the problem they want to place the burden of fixing our roads on individuals who can least afford it along with small businesses.
“We cannot take money from South Carolinians – who already spend a disproportionately high amount of their paychecks on fuel – and throw it into an unsustainable system that isn’t meeting their needs,” Sellers continued. “What we can do is fix the system first – and then fund top priorities.” Sellers is reportedly preparing a funding plan in the coming weeks to address spending priorities across state government.
The debate over raising the gas tax continues at the Statehouse this week. A growing number of Senators are calling for a gas tax increase to help maintain South Carolina’s dilapidated roads and bridges. The argument that Senators Leatherman and Stringer make are valid stating that the infrastructure system in S.C. needs to be better maintained in order to attract new businesses and job creation in South Carolina.
However Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Larry Grooms, R-Charleston, opposes increasing the gas tax, arguing that he’d put $300 million from the state’s growing general fund into road improvements. Senator Leatherman and Cleary argue that the math doesn’t add up because their are to many demands on other funds.
Read the full business journal of Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson article by clicking below.
South Carolina Association of Taxpayers 