March 3 , 2006
The Battle of the Budget - We Need Your Help!
Just when we thought funding for many important Grand Strand projects was in sight, Gov. Sanford has thrown a wrench – actually more like a whole toolbox – into the mix. The budget originally was written to include additional funding, which came from money that was garnered primarily from the growth of tourism along the coast, for various vital projects including additional tourism promotion, the local children’s museum, Coastal Carolina University and beach renourishment, among others. Now, the budget for these projects is in jeopardy. The governor’s grand plan is to give these “extra” state dollars to individuals in the form of rebates instead of reinvesting them in S.C. businesses that would generate new services and increase state revenue.
We may be a little dense, but that just doesn’t make sense to us. That’s why we need you to contact your delegation immediately and tell them how important it is to keep the budget as is, including the supplemental bill and the capital reserve bill. We don’t want the governor to strip down the pro-Grand Strand budget and leave us high and dry.
House Should Quit Smoking Bill 'Cold Turkey'
Bill H. 3795 , which prohibits smoking in bars and restaurants, will be a hot issue next week for the House Subcommittee on Judiciary. Because of a House rule that subcommittees cannot meet while the House is in session, the subcommittee had to adjourn before voting on the bill. More than likely, the vote will come next week and everything we’ve heard indicates a 3-2 vote in favor of passing the ban. However, another possible outcome next week is that, because of the additional time given to consider this bill, subcommittee members will recognize H. 3795 is not good for South Carolina businesses and should be shelved.
Senate and House at Odds Regarding Property Tax Reform
The property tax reform bill that was passed in the House ( H. 4449 ) is currently sitting in the Senate with little hope for movement. Members of the Senate, however, are working hard on their own version of property tax reform. Senators are looking at a cap on tax increases after a home has been reassessed and at a possible tax to generate money for schools. The word on the street is the Senate isn’t on board with the House bill and the House is grumbling about provisions in the Senate bill. Although the tax cap has the most momentum and support, it is unlikely that we see the House and Senate agreeing on much more than that.
Rah, rah! Goooooo Late School Start Bill!
We’re still cheering on the uniform late school start bill ( H. 4429 ). After being passed by the Education Subcommittee, the bill is now moving into full committee and should be read next Wednesday. Word on the street is more than 30 senators are currently supporting of the bill. We applaud the delegation and parents who are keeping this issue on the front burner.
Did you know?
You can search the S.C. State Library’s reference room online and find information on business and economic development, cities, health, jobs, statistics and more. Just visit http://www.state.sc.us/scsl/refdesk.html.
