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E. First Reading of Ordinance #2012-01 to Amend Section 2-2 of the Town’s Code relating to Mayor Pro Tempore

F. First Reading of Ordinance #2012-02 to Amend Section 74-66 of the Town’s Code relating to the Designation of Chamber of Commerce

G. Transfer $3,000 from Hospitality for the redesign of Beach Access 37 to prevent the blocking of the well house

A. First Reading of Ordinance #2011-33 to amend Appendix A to Chapter 62 of the Town’s Code; to amend Appendix B of Chapter 62 of the Town’s Code; to amend Chapter 62 of the Town’s Code as re-written; to amend various sections of Chapter 71 of the Town’s Code; and to amend various sections of Chapter 86 of the Town’s Code.

D. Edisto Chamber of Commerce-Advertising and Promotion of the Low Country Golf Classic $7,000

E. Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund-Edisto Marina SC Governor’s Cup Billfishing Tournament $16,000

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

In the January 4th edition of the Press & Standard the EBPOA was criticised for opposing some of the revisions of the Town of Edisto Beach zoning ordinances by Iddy Andrews, in her column "A Walk on the Beach". Please read below the reply submitted to the paper by your board for our side of the story.

These ordinances affect every property owner on Edisto Beach and will be in effect far into the future. The current ordinances have served us well. We believe these should be amended only to correct identified problems as well as adding clarifications, etc. to help the applicant. There is no compelling reason for us not to take our time and perfect these ordinances if, in fact, they need changing.

On October 2, 2011, our EBPOA Board discussed the September 19, 2011 Town Council Public Hearing and Formal Session, in detail. The Board remains very concerned about the number, the scope, and types of changes discovered in this large revision of our town's ordinances. Clearly, many of the changes proposed are not for simplification or user friendliness as was publicly proclaimed. Rather they are changes which significantly alter the current requirements or intent of the ordinances. This is very disconcerting to the Board.

We believe the revisions, previously approved by the Planning Commission in a one day session, must first be given a full and complete rehearing by the Commission. Beyond that our citizens need an opportunity to review in detail the final proposed revisions from the rehearing. To that end, we are requesting that the final version of these changes be made available to our citizens and no action be taken by Town Council regarding these revisions until the public has been heard.

If you want to be kept informed on developments on Edisto Beach, join the Edisto Beach Property Owners Association by filling out the form below and sending the annual dues of $30.00 to the return address above. Membership entitles you to two tickets to the Annual Meeting complete with BBQ dinner and cocktails.

Edisto Beach Property Address_____________________________________________________

Email address___________________________________________________________________

Town Council has slightly modified it's Legislative Initiative dealing with Point of Sale to read:" Repeal the Point of Sale portion of Legislation Act 388..." This is an improvement but far from the ringing endorsement of Act 388 we had asked for. The EBPOA was instrumental in getting this Act passed and it has saved homeowners thousands of dollars in property taxes. We must keep this Act intact.

Thanks to all who emailed our Council Members caused this change!

The Legislative Initiative now reads in full:

Point of Sale

Repeal the Point of Sale portion of Legislation Act 388, signed by the Governor on June 10, 2006. This legislation is "running people off of family property." Being that Colleton County has now reassessed based on 2006 values when the real estate market was at its peak, many people will have to sell their property because they can no longer afford the taxes.

The Town of Edisto Beach has published their new
web site check it out at
TownofEdis toBeach.com

SC allows a tax credit against income tax for primary residences. If your insurance premiums exceed 5% of your income you can claim the excess as a credit against SC income tax up to a maximum of $1,250.
To get the form click here and select form TC 44.