Legislative eNews-AUGUST 31, 2007
STATE
SC Chamber Meets with Local Business Leaders
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce held its Lowcountry regional meeting and a forum on Wednesday to have local business leaders assist the SC Chamber in formulating its 2008 Competitiveness Agenda.
The goal of the forum was to develop priorities to be presented to state legislators during next year's session of the SC General Assembly. Over 30 regional business leaders shared their views on education funding, workforce development, transportation, the Jasper Port, economic development, taxes, health care and tourism.
The 2008 Competiveness Agenda will be released later this year.
LOCAL
County Passes Revenue-Neutral Tax Change
On Monday, the Beaufort County Council passed an ordinance to alter the millage for Beaufort County residents and businesses, which resulted in lower taxes for primary homeowners and zero tax increase for businesses and second homeowners. The tax changes were needed to cover the cost of a $4.6 million student molestation legal settlement by the Beaufort County School District.
School officials originally asked for a straight operations tax increase in July which was rejected by the County Council. On Monday, Council Chairman Weston Newton proposed an amendment that fully offset the school operations increase, which passed in a 7-4 vote. After accepting the amendment, the council unanimously passed the ordinance on final reading.
Without the full debt offset, the business community and those owning second homes would have paid the brunt of the tax increase because of a cap that the state legislature placed on the ability of local governments to increase school operations millage for primary homeowners.
The school district may recover the settlement costs in its lawsuit against the insurance carrier, whose interpretation of state tort law treated the molestation cases as a single incident and paid out only $300,000. It is unclear when the case will be resolved.
State of the Region
Friday, September 21, 2007
The Westin Resort & Spa
Registration - 8:15 am Program/Breakfast 9:00am-11:30am
Chamber Members $25.00
Non-Members $35.00
Corporate Tables of 10 $250.00
RSVP
Online at http://www.hiltonheadchamber.com
Or email chavens@hiltonheadisland.org
Or call Cathy Havens 341-8369
Please take a moment to take our State of the Region survey. The top 3 topics you choose will be discussed by our Mayors at this event. The following link will take you there.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=VYWeZIjYDujFzkBP_2bqWpAA_3d_3d
