Request for property tax contact:

Some of you asked at the annual meeting about who you needed to contact at the Colleton County Tax Assessors office. The lady’s name is Ann Austin and she is very helpful. You can contact her at 843-549-1213

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Bay Creek Park

Just wanted to let you know that the Town of Edisto Beach won an achievement award from the Municipal Association of South Carolina for the Bay Creek Park. This is an important milestone validating the benefits of the park and open space for Edisto Beach.

Iris Hill

Town Administrator

Town of Edisto Beach

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REMINDER:

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Burley Lyons Park

As many of you know a small amount of land on the lagoon between Portia & Dawhoo Streets was donated several years ago with the expressed deed restriction that it be utilized as a recreational area in honor of Mayor Lyons. The TIDE Committee (The Imagine & Design of Edisto) was charges with recommending what they felt should be put in place for the park. To that end, the land was surveyed and three options for a crabbing dock were developed at the request of the TIDE Committee. The land was also cleared and a wooden fence erected. No signage/restrictions were initially posted on the property.

Subsequently, Town citizens and visitors began utilizing the area for kayaking, fishing, etc.; this lead to serious concerns by the property owners on the lagoon and nearby property owners.

The Town Planning Commission was recently asked to consider what is being proposed as well as hosting a public hearing at the Planning Commission meeting on March 27, 2012. The affected property owners were asked by letter to provide their input at the meeting or in writing to the Town.

The public hearing was the initial item on the Planning Commission agenda for the March 27 meeting. Ten property owners and other concerned citizens requested to speak. At his request, Mayor Lyons spoke first. The Mayor was adamant that no dock would be built on the lagoon and his preference was to make it restricted “greenspace”. The other speakers were unanimous in their opposition to a dock and their preference was that the property also be designated as ”greenspace”.

After the public hearing was concluded the Planning Commission considered the proposed docks and voted to recommend that none of the dock options be implemented. Further the Commission took the position that the land be designated as “greenspace” with appropriate restrictive regulations posted on the property. This concluded action by the Commission.

We will continue to follow-up on any future actions and keep you advised. Please note that the above is my interpretation of the background on this as well as my recollection on the proceedings in the March 27, 2012 Planning Commission meeting and public hearing. When we get the official minutes late in April, we will forward those to you. One final point. Both the TIDE Committee and the Planning Commission have done what they were asked to do. I would suggest we should show our appreciation to both of these volunteer committees for their continued work.

Please feel free to contact me at (843)869-0056 or edistobeachpoa@gmail.com if you have any comments or concerns. Thanks for your support.

Bob Sandifer, President

EBPOA

A bill, H4998, was introduced in the SC House today which reduces the assessment rate on business and second home properties from 6% to 5%. The bill has 59 sponsors! The reduction is to take place in 0.125 % increments over 8 years.

This should be of interest to a great number of our membership. Any bill affecting finances must pass both houses with a 2/3 vote. 59/124 is 47.6% so this bill is well on its way. Members should contact their Representative and ask that they support this legislation and become a cosponsor.

David Cannon

Dear EBPOA Member

At our request Rep. Don Bowen has introduced the bill below, H.4688, if passed, it will cap property tax for owner occupied homes for owners 65 years of age or over at 3% of adjusted gross income. Further, it will give the owner two years before action is taken to sell the property for non-payment of property tax and, if the owner is 70 years or over, it will prevent sale and simply put a lien on the property for the unpaid amount. This should prevent retirees from being taxed out of their homes in a way that Act 388 tried to do but came up short of a complete solution.

Note that the credit of property tax in excess to 3% of adjusted income is a credit to SC income tax and the county never gets involved in the credit transaction. If this credit results in an overpayment of state income tax a refund should result.

There are many instances of retirees losing their homes though inability to pay taxes as they are currently levied and most would be able to pay 3% of their income in property tax. Property tax runs as high as 30% of income for lower income retirees. in even medium-valued properties. Property tax relief is particularly crucial in these bad economic times.

You are urged to contact your Representative to support this bill and ask him to co-sponsor it to add weight to it's importance and chance of success. This is our best chance to solve this problem once and for all!

Your Representative's contact information can be found at www.scstatehouse.gov. under "Find Your Legislator" and "Contact Your Legislator" in the list on the left side of the page.

David Cannon, Property Taxation Committee

Session 119 - (2011-2012)

H 4688 General Bill, By Bowen

Summary: Not yet available

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 27 TO CHAPTER 37, TITLE 12 SO AS TO ENACT THE "INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT", TO PROVIDE INCOME TAX CREDITS FOR TAXPAYERS AT LEAST SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE IN AN AMOUNT BY WHICH THE PROPERTY TAX ON THE TAXPAYER'S PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE EXCEEDS THREE PERCENT OF THE TAXPAYER'S ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME, TO PROVIDE THAT THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF A TAXPAYER WHO QUALIFIES FOR AN INCOME TAX CREDIT AGAINST THE AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX LIABILITY THEREON IS EXEMPT FROM ATTACHMENT, LEVY, AND SALE FOR NONPAYMENT OF COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAXES FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS AFTER SUCH TAXES ON THIS PROPERTY HAVE BECOME DELINQUENT, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF A TAXPAYER WHO QUALIFIES FOR AN INCOME TAX CREDIT AGAINST THE AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES THEREON AND IS AT LEAST SEVENTY YEARS OF AGE MAY HAVE A LIEN FILED AGAINST IT FOR NONPAYMENT OF THESE TAXES, BUT IS EXEMPT FROM ATTACHMENT, LEVY, AND SALE FOR THE NONPAYMENT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS AN ASSESSABLE TRANSFER OF INTEREST OCCURS WITH REGARD TO THE PROPERTY.

01/26/12 House Introduced and read first time

01/26/12 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

Colleton County has mailed the 2011 Tax Notice. If you wish to appeal,
click on this link for some helpful information.
Click here for information