Homeowners would pick up tab for 3 projectsBy Andy Paras (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, June 15, 2008
MONCKS CORNER — The owner of a $150,000 home would pay an extra $49 a year in property taxes if Berkeley County Council diverts money for tax relief to improve roads and expand the jail. Councilmen say they're leaning toward using 29 percent of the local-option sales tax until three crucial projects — the widening of U.S. Highway 17A, the expansion of the jail and improvements to the Jedburg Road overpass — are completed. The result would be about $49 less in property tax credits for the owner of a $150,000 home next year, county Finance Director Kace Smith said. That homeowner would pay about $163 on a $282 tax bill instead of $114. The amounts would about double for the owner of a $300,000 owner- occupied home. County officials say using the tax revenue would mean less of a hit on taxpayers than raising the tax rate on personal property tax bills because the sales tax is paid by anyone who shops in Berkeley County, not just property owners. The hitch is that County Council promised 12 years ago to use all of the 1-cent sales tax toward property tax relief after voters approved the tax in a referendum. Supervisor Dan Davis originally proposed using the money as a recurring source to pay for a laundry-list of long-term projects. Some councilmen said they would prefer to pay for what they say are the most pressing projects and then stop using the money altogether. Some residents say using that money translates to raising taxes through the back door. Goose Creek resident Richard Smith said he almost would prefer to see the county raise his personal property taxes than go back on its word. Richard Smith, who said he was at the meeting 12 years ago when council made its promise, said using that money, even temporarily, would encourage future councils to use the money for equally-pressing projects. "Once you open Pandora's Box it's hard to get it shut again," Smith said. Some county officials and residents questioned why during some years the county returns less than 100 percent of the money to taxpayers. Kace Smith said all of the money eventually goes toward the property tax credits even though they don't give the entire 100 percent some years. That is because county staff has to guess several months ahead of time how much revenue and how much total assessed value there will be based on the previous years. In seven of the 12 years, residents received more than 100 percent of the tax revenue credit. Smith said that if the council uses the 29 percent, county residents will feel the pinch more than expected this upcoming year because the county gave back more than it planned to in 2008. Smith added that county staff planned on giving back only about 80 percent of the tax money this past year in anticipation of council approving the capital improvements plan. Instead, the county gave back 92.5 percent. She said it's likely the county won't have enough money to pay for all three projects in 2008-09 because of the extra 12.5 percent. "Even if we do the 29 percent, we may not have enough money to do everything we want to pay for," she said. Berkeley County Council will discuss how to proceed during its June 23 meeting. Reach Andy Paras at aparas@postandcourier.com or 745-5891. |
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Comments
This article has 7 comment(s)
Posted by Zod on June 15, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In the past 10 years the population of Daniel Island has swelled to 7000 NEW residents of the county. These residents pay taxes for which they receive no services from the county. The City of Charleston performs the services that the county COULD provide.
The City of Hanahan has annexed lands in the southern portion of Goose Creek reducing the number of residents that the county must provide services. The same new growth in Hanahan is paying new taxes to Berkeley County.
The City of Goose Creek has annexed lands in every direction of the Saint James area reducing the number of residents the county must provide services. The city of Goose Creek now provides former county services. The county now must simply collect their check.
Yes, there is growth in the county but the large majority of the growth is within one municipality or another where county services do not exist. Yet, the county has accepted tax monies from their benefactors within the municipalities. The facts are that the county has received 10 years worth of growth in funding through every residential or commercial building built in the last 10 years. Every resident that owns a car, motorcycle, or boat has also funded the growth in Berkeley county.
The supervisor and council are choosing to make an argument that this is not the taxpayers money. The following is their county history lesson:
The voters of Berkeley county passed a referendum to raise their own taxes for the county school district.
The voters of the county voted to pass a one cent sales tax to offset the cost of the aforementioned referendum.
The previous members of county council along with the previous supervisor promised that the new income generated by the one cent sales tax would remain tax relief for the owners of homes and personal property in the county.
There is no longer any reason to question why something was done in the past. Now you know why. The only question that remains is if YOU on council or YOU in the supervisor's office wish to raise taxes. The matter is just that simple.
Posted by moonpie on June 15, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The voters of the county voted to pass a one cent sales tax to offset the cost of the aforementioned referendum"
What ZOD wrote pretty much sums it up. It was decided on by the voters and it doesn't need to change. The county needs to mange better. I don't blame Dan Brown for this mess it was his predecessor that was in office for a near life term! Term limits are needed for any office. Think there's a reason we only elect presidents for two terms?
WORK WITHIN YOUR BUDGETS LIKE THE REST OF US DO!
Posted by amylrod on June 15, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Zod and Moonpie's comments. I would also question why do we need to expand the jail? Jails should be places where you do not want to end up at. So, leave them overcrowded - it may act as a deterrent for those who think about committing crimes. And as far as widening 17-A - (I have driven the road to Moncks Corner - never encountered any problems)lower the speed limit and enforce it! People have accidents because they are not paying attention. Jedburg overpass? Because of industry, it may well be needed. But as mentioned in the above posts, do like the rest of us - work within your budget!
Posted by MMitchum on June 15, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)
I agree on the Jedburg Overpass. I am from Berkeley County and work in Aiken on a SC State project here. When I come home I get off I-26 at the Jedburg exit. This exit is a disaster, it is on you before you know it and the people swerve to not miss this exit....needs a longer exit lane off I-26. Then when you get to the exit end to get on Jedburg Rd. it is also hard to get on, cars coming from the right and when you look towards the left at the bridge overpass itself you better floor it because you can't see who is coming over the overpass...like pulling out and here comes someone flying thru there....so Jedburg Exit and Overpass is a must or put some lights up until we can afford the the new improvements....which should cost less.
Posted by drp7773 on June 15, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is why you pay gas tax, each county gets money to pay for road projects and with all the areas that were annexed there should have been more taxes collected but now they say if a road needs to be improved well hell we have to collect more money for each project.This is BS if this is true tax increases would be a monthly collection. As for the jail, they knew when they built the jail in was too small at this time it should have been built bigger, 2,3 even 4 stories, it's cheaper to go up then expand on more property, also way cheaper then to buy more land and build same mistake schools keep doing, its a total waste of tax payers money. If the jail is so full, how many pot smokers and dangerous drivers and other stupid offences are taking up space. If they need more room then put up the tents like the place out in Texas did, and put these non violent criminals in there and put the violent and scum bags in the jail cells. Again so much money saved. And when have you ever seen a tax increase taken away once the greedy politicians gets their hands on it?
Posted by tomtomdumdum on June 15, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I called the Berkeley County jail and asked them how many people were in jail and i was told 445, I then asked how many was it built for and i was told 135, Thats scarry for the workers that work there. BUILD THE JAIL!
Posted by lou9 on June 16, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It sounds like county council has already deciced on raising our taxes. The question is how are they going to do it. Either take the sales tax promised to lower our property taxes or increase the millage. I would rather they just go ahead and raise the millage. That way we would still get the sales tax relief. If they get their hands on the sales tax they will never give it back. They will just find something else to waste it on, like paid vacations to Hawaii for a "seminar"(like they did a year or two ago). Where is the extra revenue from all this growth?
Growth paying for growth.... the big political lie.