State & Regional Interest	Friday, May 14, 2004
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Senate bill would reduce taxes on golf courses (Published March 30‚ 2004) HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) - Public golf courses would pay lower taxes under a bill in the state Senate. The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head Island, would require all South Carolina counties to use a standard formula for determining the value of public golf courses. Currently counties can use several methods to determine fair market value for a course. Supporters say the plan would eliminate the varying ways counties tax courses that have led to lengthy court challenges, such as one filed by Sea Pines Co. in 1998 that took four years to settle. But critics of the Senate proposal say it would cut tax collections for already strapped local governments. Rip Rose, who has been lobbying lawmakers on behalf of golf courses, said the final formula for determining course value is still being discussed. Bernice Wright, assessor in Beaufort County where there are about 50 golf courses, said the change would greatly reduce the amount of money her county collects from golf courses. "Basically, they'll be moving the tax burden onto other properties," she said. --- Information from: The Island Packet, http://www.islandpacket.com

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