This is a printer friendly version of an article from
www.goupstate.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose
Print.
Back
Article published Aug 18, 2004
Overtaxed: Charleston loses ruling
Associated Press
CHARLESTON -- Charleston County property
owners charged too much under a tax cap that has been declared illegal may file
for refunds with the county assessor, the state Supreme Court has ruled.The high
court, ruling Monday, also ordered the county to contact all property owners who
may have been overcharged about their right to a refund.The Supreme Court had
earlier ruled the tax cap for owner-occupied homes illegal. On Monday, the court
issued a ruling on how the county should compensate taxpayers who paid too
much.The 3-2 ruling criticized the county for "placing obstacles in the way of
its wronged taxpayers" and "expending more taxpayer money fighting the
refund-seekers on every front."A year ago, a circuit judge gave the county two
months to issue refunds, which would have ranged from just pennies to tens of
thousands of dollars.But the Supreme Court, in its ruling Monday, reversed that,
noting there are administrative means to provide the refunds.