Thursday night, the Greenville County citizen roads commission met for the first time to begin the process of compiling a list of high-priority road improvement projects. Many local representatives from Greenville municipalities and official departments were vying for a spot on the list despite the fact that neither the commission nor the county has funding  for the final list of projects.

Last November the Greenville County Council passed a resolution to create the roads commission to hear the needs of the citizens. The projects that made their final list of road improvements were slated to be funded through 1% sales tax increase also known as a penny tax.

However the resolution was greatly amended to remove all mention of funding, and the County Council explicitly told the chairwoman of the committee, Lisa Stevens, that the commission should leave funding concerns out of the commission’s decision entirely. For the full article from GSA Business click the link below.

http://www.gsabusiness.com/news/50234-vice-chair-bragg-finding-road-projects-without-funding-lsquo-absolutely-rsquo-odd

Gas Tax Increase: S.891

This bills primary sponsor is (R)Sen. Ray Cleary of Georgetown. This bill would increase the state’s gas tax by two cent every year until the gas tax reaches 36 cents per gallon. This would more than double the current gas tax of 16.5 cents per gallon. Currently South Carolina has the third lowest gas tax in the nation.

Republican Governor Nikki Haley has said she will veto any legislation to increase the states gas tax.

Online sales taxes: S.870

This bills primary sponsor is first year Democratic Senator Marlon Kimpson of Charleston. This bill would require online retailers to collect state sales taxes if they have sales of more than $10,000 a year to S.C. resident. This bill however would not apply to companies that own,leases or utilizes a distribution facility in the state.

Amazon.com seems to be exempt from this sales tax, having their distribution plant in Lexington County.

Happy New Year!!

We are excited about 2014 and the new challenges and opportunities it presents. We would like to introduce you all to our new website…. scat1982org.wordpress.com.

This website will  become the primary place to find news, stories, and information about all things related to taxes for South Carolinian’s. We hope that this new website will better serve the needs of you the South Carolina Taxpayer!!

Best,

R. Stokes

Associate Consultant:

South Carolina Association of Taxpayers