COLUMBIA -- Greenville County homeowners might not have to worry about any increased property tax bill this year due to reassessment, if a joint resolution passed by the Senate on Wednesday is adopted by the House and signed by the governor.

The legislation by Sen. David Thomas, a Greenville County Republican, would not postpone the reassessment but would delay its impact on taxpayers until 2007.

"It's up to the House now," Thomas said. "Whether there is going to be a big tax increase is up to the House."

Thomas drafted the legislation so lawmakers would have time to finish work this year on proposals affecting property tax and reassessment systems. Lawmakers have promised reforms in both areas this session.

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Walt Dahlgren, a Greenville County homeowner and advocate of property tax reform, said he was pleased with the Senate action.

"That would be good for the people of Greenville County because they won't be hit with that increase, and it will give them a chance to work this thing out in Columbia, which I hope they will," he said.

Harry Cato, a Travelers Rest Republican and chairman of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, said he believes the legislation will pass.

"I would be in favor of it, and I think the entire Greenville delegation would," he said. "I think the reasoning is sound behind it. I think we should delay it until we see what the General Assembly says about the property tax."

Dahlgren said he believes his home's assessed value could jump as much as 30 to 40 percent this year and that the county's homeowners can expect an average increase of 32 percent.

Greenville County Council put off the scheduled five-year update of all property values last year, with some members saying the one-year delay could give the General Assembly time to tinker with the system.

Among the plans being considered by lawmakers is one that would replace part of the property tax with a two-cent increase in the sales tax. Lawmakers also are considering reassessment reforms that would update a home's value only at the time it is sold.

The reassessment process is meant to redistribute the tax burden as some properties gain value and others lose it.

Greenville County Administrator Joseph Kernell said it's too early to know what the impact of the legislation could be or what the county might do about it.