STOP Tax

STOPTAX.ORG

Board of Directors

Wendy Bremer
Director
Greenville
STOPTAX.org
(864) 444-2595

Timothy Moultrie
Media Liaison
STOPTAX.org
(803) 894-6470

David Whetsell
President
STOPTAX.org
(803) 957-8694

STOP TAXING OUR PROPERTY

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School Boards and Superintendents Complain about Funding as a Result of Act 388

The Schools (teachers and administrators) and local governments are blaming Act 388 for their financial problems. It affects the schools very little and local governments not at all. Act 388 protects homeowners and businesses. When you figure taxes to schools (all the figures are on the Dept. of Education's website) Act 388 only went down about 1/10 of a percent because the economy is doing so badly. Act 388 was a tax swap. The problem is that the State has cut funding about 30% (1 billion dollars). In a way they are correct. The real kicker is when Act 388 and the Constitutional amendment was passed it put their uncontrolled spending to a stop. The amendment put a stop to hyper-inflated house prices. They cannot change that without a vote. Before Act 388 and the Constitutional amendment was passed property taxes were pushed up by false home prices and the local government spending like a kid with a credit card with NO LIMIT. They would decide all the lavish programs they think of, then say they need whatever amount they want. Then tell everyone YOU HAVE TO PAY THIS OR WE WILL TAKE YOUR HOME AND SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO WILL PAY IT. Do you remember before Act 388 when your property taxes were increasing about 20% a year from uncontrolled school and local government spending? That is what they want back. They now can only increase property taxes (all 11 of them including businesses and second homes) by CPT plus GROWTH (about 2% this year). If Act 388 is repealed by the Legislature (it has a very good chance because it will be a non-election year next session), the schools and local governments are going to cry very loud and the Legislators are going to get less money next year and the federal stimulus money will not be there for them, therefore they will put it on property taxes. I predict that our property taxes will triple or more next year if this happens and there will be nothing we can do if we sit on our butts and wait on them to make the first move. The property taxes on a $200,000 home will be about $12,000 a year within 2 to 3 years. Other States' property taxes are doubling every year and some are paying $12,000 a year on their homes ($1,000 a month in just property taxes) because they do not have our protection (ACT 388). Can you see what would have happened to us already if the two bills were not passed? Every time they got cut they would put it on us. The States around us that do not have protection on their homes and other property are seeing their taxes double or more every year. If we sleep and wait, IT WILL HAPPEN TO US. Let them and me know who is ready to take this fight to them after the primary next week and let all those who live on the beaches, lakes and mountains know. They need to get with us like last time. If not we will be had. I do not think all you people want this or trust your Legislators not to repeal it. Do not vote for anyone that wants Act 388 repealed or said it was a mistake like Haley, McMaster and Bauer. Barrett was the only one not to say anything about it.

David Whetsell
President STOPTAX

House Prices Going Down

We need to get started on forcing reassessment next year, as home prices are going down.

The Lexington County Assessor's Office states on their website:

"Q. Am I supposed to be told about changes in market value determined for my property?

A. Yes. The Assessor must mail a property assessment notice to all property owners whose real property’s fair market value increases by $1,000 or more. Assessment notices must be sent to the person listed as property owner as of December 31 of the prior year.

The assessment notice includes the market value, the new assessment value, the assessment ratio, number of acres or lots, location of property, tax map number and the appeals procedure.

When a reassessment program is completed, the Assessor must mail the assessment notices by February 1 of the year the reassessment program will be implemented."

But the Assessor's Office is not telling the public the whole truth as shown below from South Carolina code of laws, Title 12 - Taxation, Section 12-37-90, sub-section C. I wonder how many of the other county assessor's offices are telling half-truths.

Title 12 - Taxation CHAPTER 37. ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 12-37-90. Assessors to be full-time; responsibilities and duties.

All counties shall have a full-time assessor, whose responsibility is appraising and listing all real property, whether exempted or not, except real property required by law to be assessed by the department and property owned by the federal government, state government, county government, or any of its political subdivisions and which is exempt from property taxation. If the assessor discovers that any real property required by law to be assessed by the department has been omitted, he shall notify the department that the property has been omitted and the department is required to appraise and assess the omitted property.

The assessor is responsible for the operations of his office and shall:

(a) maintain a continuous record of recorded deed sales transactions, building permits, tax maps, and other records necessary for a continuing reassessment program;

(b) diligently search for and discover all real property not previously returned by the owners or their agents or not listed for taxation by the county auditor, and list such property for taxation in the name of the owner or person to whom it is taxable;

(c) when values change, reappraise and reassess real property so as to reflect its proper valuation in light of changed conditions, except for exempt property and real property required by law to be appraised and assessed by the department, and furnish a list of these assessments to the county auditor;

(d) determine assessments and reassessments of real property in a manner that the ratio of assessed value to fair market value is uniform throughout the county;

(e) appear as necessary before an appellate board to give testimony and present evidence as to the justification of an appraisal;

(f) have the right of appeal from a disapproval of or modification of an appraisal made by him;

(g) perform duties relating to the office of tax assessor required by the laws of this State;

(h) be the sole person responsible for the valuation of real property, except that required by law to be appraised and assessed by the department, and the values set by the assessor may be altered only by the assessor or by legally constituted appellate boards, the department, or the courts;

(i) have the right to enter and examine all new nonresidential buildings and structures and those portions of an existing nonresidential building or structure covered by a building permit for renovations or additions.

What You Can Do to Help!!!

Join stoptax.org today.
Please make a donation of $10, $50, $100 or more so we can contact more people to join us in the fight to save our homes. We have to let them know you support the elimination of personal property taxes on homes. We want to spread the word and build membership as a grassroots organization to pressure the legislators to pass the bill and amendments to make owning your HOME a reality. With every $10 given we will send you a STOPTAX bumper sticker. No one in STOPTAX makes any money as all of it is spent on getting the word out.

You can donate by sending a check to:
StopTax
P.O. Box 84102
Lexington, SC 29073

Then, call your neighbors, friends, family members, children, classmates, and business associates and ask them to do the same! (Keep the money for yourselves and your family. If you don't, they will add the 2% for something else anyway, and we will be paying exorbitant property taxes and the 2% sales tax at some point.)

We need your support! Email us at info@stoptax.org or contact us by phone to find out how you can help.

Spokesperson: David R. Whetsell
Phone: (803) 957-8694

Media Liaison: Timothy Moultrie
Phone: (803) 312-5167