COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Senate leader Glenn
McConnell says fellow senators need to quit talking about property taxes
and vote.
The Senate adjourned Wednesday after making no progress on a proposal
to give homeowners property tax relief by raising the state sales tax.
Most senators want to pass some form of relief but can't agree on how
to do it, even though some of them have tossed around ideas since last
year.
A Senate committee passed out a bill last week, knowing it lacked
support, just to send something to the floor. They never got to that
proposal or any other Wednesday, instead talking generally about
property taxes and education funding.
"People would rather talk than vote," McConnell, the Senate president
pro tem, said after adjournment. "People are still looking for
alternatives and plans."
Senators must take a stand on the issue and cast some difficult votes
because nothing will get done if they keep "treading water and thinking
a magical solution will appear," McConnell said.
McConnell has pushed the issue because homeowners in his Charleston
area district face skyrocketing property values. Homeowners in other
pockets across the state also have demanded property tax relief
following reassessment, though South Carolina property taxes do not rank
high overall.
The state ranks in the middle nationwide for how much of their income
residents spend on property taxes, according to the U.S. Commerce
Department.
The South Carolina House passed a plan in February that would cut the
tax bills on owner-occupied homes by 85 percent and increase the state
sales tax by 2 cents, to 7 cents. Senators immediately blasted the plan
as unbalanced and bad for businesses, but they haven't been able to
reach consensus on their own.
All House members face re-election this November. They passed their
plan well before the March 30 filing deadline for running for office.
Senators aren't elected this year.
Still, the Senate remains dedicated to the issue, McConnell said.
"I will not be satisfied until the Senate takes it up and deals with
it," he said.
Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, said he will propose a plan Thursday to
remove school operating costs from all property tax bills, including on
businesses, vehicles and rental property. His proposal would raise the
necessary $2.4 billion through a combination of tax increases, including
a 2-cent increase in the state sales tax, eliminating some sales tax
exemptions, doubling the taxes on alcohol, and increasing the cigarette
tax to $1 a pack from 7 cents.
The idea, though less specific, previously died in subcommittee.
But McConnell said introducing it on the floor will spur action.
"His amendment will make the rubber meet the road," McConnell said.
