From Wire Reports
Panel OKs tax breaks for sprinkler systems
COLUMBIA --- Installing a new fire sprinkler system in a home or business could bring tax breaks worth about half their cost under a bill sent to the Senate on Thursday.
The legislation allows local governments to decide whether to offer tax breaks of up to 25 percent of the sprinkler system's cost. That money would be matched by state tax breaks. Property owners with sprinkler systems also typically get breaks on their fire insurance.
The legislation is in response to a deadly furniture store fire in Charleston last year that killed nine firefighters. Authorities have said sprinklers would have at least delayed the spread of the fire.
It's unclear how many counties might offer the tax breaks or, given the economy, how many can afford it.
Robert Croom, a lobbyist for the South Carolina Association of Counties, said there were no estimates of how much the typical county might offer.
Counties lose out on federal disaster aid
COLUMBIA --- State officials say a request to have nine counties in South Carolina declared federal disaster areas because of last month's storm damage has been denied.
Gov. Mark Sanford says he has now sent a letter to the Federal Small Business Administration asking the agency to offer low-interest loans to people and businesses that suffered storm damage in Aiken, Allendale and Williamsburg counties.
Insurers say the storms and tornadoes March 15 caused more than $40 million in damage.
In other news
State Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson says the party's national rules committee has agreed to recommend that South Carolina keep its first-in-the-South primary in 2012.
-- Edited from wire reports
