Legislative eNews
LOCAL
County Council
County Council gave final approval to a bond referendum to raise the county's sales tax by 1% to pay for $152 million in transportation projects countywide. The referendum has the support of all the local municipal governments as well. The bond referedum will be considered by county voters on November 7, 2006. County Chair Weston Newton, while introducing US Senator Jim DeMint at an event earlier this week, urged the business community to support upcoming transportation sales tax referendum.
Business License Fees
The County Administrator acknowledged that more than 1,000 businesses are operating in unincorporated Beaufort County without a business license. The County Administrator is recommending County Council provide amnesty to those businesses as long as they pay the license fee by the end of 2006.
The County Council voted earlier this year to increase the license fee, but not until a compliance program was put in place. The County Administrator has not yet unveiled the full compliance plan publically. County staff is currently crosschecking tax records with business license registrations to determine how many businesses are truly in violation.
The local municipalities also have business license fee programs.
FEDERAL
President Bush Signed Pension Reform Bill
On Thursday, President Bush signed a bipartisan pension reform bill to address significant underfunding of the nation's defined-benefit plans. The bill focused on traditional defined-benefit plans, but also provided changes to 401(K) and IRA plans to increase retirement savings.
Senator Jim DeMint in Beaufort County
On Thursday, Senator DeMint attended the annual meeting of the Greater Beaufort-Hilton Head Economic Partnership. Senator DeMint praised the Partnership for its unity of vision and presented the Partnership with his South Carolina on the Move award. In his comments, Senator DeMint noted that the business community and local political leaders are better served when they can come together with a common set of priorities for federal funding, which is often dependent on similar "matched" state and local funds. He also spoke about international competiveness and simplifying the tax code.
On the politically sensitive issue of immigration, Senator DeMint explained that many Senators are unwilling to consider further immigration reform until the borders are secure. He said that Congress will likely not finish work on the immigration bill before it recesses in October. Senator DeMint acknowledged that some workers are needed, especially in the area's tourism dependent industry, and that he supports a guest worker program.
UPCOMING EVENTS
South Carolina Chamber Grassroots Network Meeting
Thursday, September 7
11:30 am – 1 pm
Chamber Headquarters ($10 at door for lunch)
RSVP to Julie Scott at 803-799-4601 or julie.scott@scchamber.net
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce 2006 Washington, D.C.Fly-In
Tuesday, September 12-Wednesday, September 13
Contact Chris Long at 341-8370 or clong@hiltonheadisland.org
State of the Community Breakfast
Friday, September 22, 9:00 am
Westin Resort
Join:
Weston Newton, Beaufort County Council Chair
Tom Peeples, Mayor, Town of Hilton Head Island
Hank Johnston, Mayor, Town of Bluffton
$25 for Members/$35 for Non-Members
RSVP to Laura Wolf at 341-8377 or lwolf @hiltonheadisland.org
