Property tax is a hot issue in Columbia, but it will take cool heads to address it constructively.

Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head Island, is among those who successfully pushed the topic to the front burner for the Senate last week, getting assurance it will be addressed early in next year's legislative session.

It took some tomfoolery to get that attention. Suggestions by some senators that the committee process be bypassed to bring to the floor sweeping change at the last minute of a session was thankfully shot down.

The idea of taking up change to the state constitution in such a haphazard way was ludicrous. But Richardson said it was successful in that it got the ball rolling for what should hopefully be more thoughtful debate next year. And Richardson warns that the state hasn't seen anything yet when it comes to property tax complaints. He says it will really hit the fan next year when most South Carolinians see what Beaufort County residents saw this year: The first reassessments for tax purposes since property values took meteoric rises in recent years in many places.

There is promise in the Senate's current position.

For starters, they are at least now talking about the core issue: The constitution. It took years, and several court rulings, for the legislature to accept the clear fact that the constitution requires real property to be taxed based on fair market value.

That should have preempted the simplistic solutions suggested, such as caps to protect the wealthiest from paying their fair share of local taxes.

Also promising are several moves to dig deeper into the issue.

Dare we express optimism that yet another special committee will be appointed to study taxation?

There have been other studies in recent years, but little change to the basic tax structure. But we are optimistic because Sens. Glenn McConnell and Hugh Leatherman promise a panel to look at property taxes this summer. It is a complex issue that needs a thorough look, not sound bites.

When any tax -- whether it is property tax, sales tax or income tax -- is tinkered with, it has a rippling effect. And whatever the legislature changes on the property tax would have a huge impact on local governments, which, after all, are the ones that collect property tax and set the property tax rates.

Before taking action, the legislature needs to be shown what its change will mean. What will it mean to a town's ability to raise money? If less comes from property tax, where will the gap be made up? If owners of highly valued property get a cap, what will it mean to other taxpayers? What will it mean to businesses?

Another promising development is that hearings are to be held around the state on this topic prior to the next legislative session. That could include one in Beaufort. Public input is important. And so is input from municipalities, school districts and county governments.

Another promising factor is that the Palmetto Institute is to release this summer a study of the state tax system. This public policy organization, which has the goal of increasing personal wealth in the state, deserves to be heard.

It won't be easy to do the right thing to address property tax concerns. That's why it is good that the Senate plans to take some time in getting there.