AIKEN - The local business community might want to keep close tabs on the South Carolina General Assembly when it reconvenes in January.

That was the recommendation from some members of the Aiken County legislative delegation during a preview breakfast with members of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

"I would hope that all of you would just keep up with what's going on in Columbia," state Rep. Bill Clyburn, D-Aiken, told about 85 business people at Woodside Plantation Country Club.

With good reason. Property tax reform promises to be a top priority in Columbia next year, and some members of the local delegation had concerns about its effect on commercial interests.

"The business community may be the last one standing, and you may be the easy target," said state Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Clearwater.

Tax reform ad hoc committees from the state Senate and House, which met this fall, have floated proposals to increase sales taxes by 1 to 3 cents to provide property tax relief.

State Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, said he did not want all of the additional tax burden to fall on businesses.

"My hope is that it's just not rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic," he said.

Although the state needs property tax reform, said state Rep. Don Smith, R-North Augusta, the issue is of greater concern in coastal counties than in Aiken County.

"There is no need for statewide legislation for an issue that doesn't affect the entire state," he said.

Instead of a tax reduction, Mr. Smith said, the General Assembly could end up legislating nothing more than a tax shift from property taxes to higher sales taxes.

The Legislature will discuss property tax reform, said state Rep. Robert "Skipper" Perry, R-Aiken, but it is not necessarily up to state legislators to settle the matter.

"Your complaint is with your county council and your city council," he said. "I sometimes think we have jumped into something that is probably none of our business."

After the meeting, Cindy Senkowsky, the interim president of the Aiken chamber, said no local merchants have approached her with concerns about a shift from property taxes to higher sales taxes. She said any apprehension about such legislation would be premature until "we see where it's headed."

Mr. Moore said tax reform likely will require a constitutional amendment that would be submitted to the voters for approval.

Mr. Clyburn, who serves on the House property tax reform committee, said he did not want the debate to become a chance for political posturing.

"Everybody knows that's going to be the hottest issue in Columbia," he said of property tax reform. "I hope we don't use our time up there with a lot of rhetoric because it's an election year."

Reach Betsy Gilliland at (803) 648-1395, ext. 113, or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.