Dorchester checking out residency claims

By Dave Munday

The Post and Courier

Monday, June 23, 2008

ST. GEORGE — Thousands of Dorchester County residents are getting letters saying they have to prove they live in their houses or pay more property taxes.

It's a problem residents in Berkeley and Charleston counties don't have to deal with.

Dorchester County is sending out the letters to satisfy state requirements for getting school money, Assessor Wayne Welch said today. State auditors reviewed the county's records and wanted more information to prove that homeowners who were claiming the 4 percent tax rate actually lived in those houses, he said. A number of homeowners were claiming several houses as their primary residences, for instance, he said.

Homeowners pay a 4 percent tax rate on the house in which they live. Those who own a house but don't live in it, such as landlords, are supposed to pay the 6 percent commercial rate.

The state is concerned because the state gives counties sales-tax money for schools based on owner-occupied residential properties, thanks to a change in state law last year.

The Dorchester County assessor's office has been sending out letters asking property owners who want the 4 percent tax rate to send a copy of their driver's license and car registrations. Those documents will help establish where people live, Welch said.

"The state is demanding more proof of residency," he said. "Were not trying to make this a hardship on anyone."

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realdealsummerville (anonymous) says...

shocker.

June 23, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

realdealsummerville (anonymous) says...

This is what we are looking at in Dorchester County. People stealing all the time. I am sure that their is a law that states that if people do this they can be fined. How about lets break that thing out? I am sure that we will not because our county council is afraid to hurt people's feelings. Mine are hurt and I pay my taxes. My family has a problem paying taxes on our home, why should these folks get a deal? I can tell you why, they think that they are entitled to it. They are not. Please, someone in Dorchester County needs to step up and get this thing done. Maybe Feltner, Murphy, or Murphree, but someone. Please be good stewards of our tax dollars.

June 23, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

zoomru (anonymous) says...

Well...Well...Well, A county looking for tax revenue?? Imagine that?

I think you should look at your trash and go to www.startech.net. Your trash is money to help pay for schools; instead of a relying on the state??!! You would help close bees ferry too boot. If residents of Dorchester Co. were all REALLY concerned about school funding....they would google SKYTRAN and have this mass transit system servicing their county along with school bussing....think of the fuel budget per month alone?. Do you really want to PAVE ...Dorchester Co Roads ...4 , 6 , and 8 lanes wide in the next 20 years??? Just look at Mt. Pleasant or L.A.?? Don't get me wrong....I'm all for cars...BUT ..WHAT is going to set your county apart from all the others??? WHAT???? Don't you want tourists to come up there for something????

June 23, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

zoomru (anonymous) says...

I am no salesperson.... I own NO STOCK!! That would be unethical. I am trying to educate as many voters across the state ...just how much we are getting the SHAFT. Officials are keeping our landfills OPEN in this state so they can offer "POWER" Lollipops to companies like BMW and Michelin at a reduced rate for methane gas. In fact...the power should be sold back through the power grid for the taxpayers benefit. The power companies have no reservation in coming to us for rate increases...?? They should want to be good stewards of OUR mutual environment and want to close OUR landfills FOREVER ..too. They make money either way.....so why not do the RIGHT THING??? Its called GUTLESS Leadership.
When you read the press release and realize that Puerto Rico thinks more of there Island than ....Dorchester Co.?? You know something SMELLS...RATS!!

June 23, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

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