Eliminate sales tax altogether! Piecemeal relief is merely a sop to the masses. Said by a former Montana resident (where they still have no sales tax). .GGpap
COLUMBIA --- If Gov. Mark Sanford's plan to eliminate sales-tax holidays on back-to-school shopping is approved by the South Carolina General Assembly, Aiken County businesses could lose shoppers to Georgia.
"I would be surprised if they didn't," said Rep. Roland Smith, R-Warrenville. "That's the downside of living near the border."
The proposal, part of Mr. Sanford's $5.8 billion budget, argues that targeted exemptions, which extend also to energy-efficient-appliances and firearms, complicate the tax code and affect only the timing of purchases without increasing consumer demand.
Mr. Smith said he hasn't decided whether to oppose the governor's proposal.
"Does the program need to be looked at? I think the total tax program does," he said. "We've made those exemptions in a piecemeal fashion."
Mr. Sanford's recommendation is part of a package of tax reforms that include increasing the cigarette tax by 30 cents a pack, phasing out the corporate income tax and offering citizens the option of a 3.65 percent flat income tax.
As for whether border counties would lose shoppers to Georgia, Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said, "We think using that money to cut income taxes would have a far greater stimulative effect on the economy."
In the last legislative session the General Assembly overrode the governor's veto of legislation enacting tax holidays for energy-efficient appliances and firearms.
The gun-tax relief will also be missed if the governor's proposal is approved, some say.
Sandi Rutland, who manages Baxley Pawn Shop in Barnwell, said business jumped the day after Thanksgiving because of last year's holiday.
"It was good," she said. "We were really, really busy that Friday."
For some environmentalists, the governor's proposal to eliminate the sales- tax holiday on so-called green appliances steals attention from efficient washing machines, ceiling fans and other home products.
"It's about raising awareness," said Dacre Stoker, executive director of the Aiken Land Conservancy.
Reach Sarita Chourey at (803) 727-4257 or sarita.chourey@morris.com.
Comments
Eliminate sales tax altogether! Piecemeal relief is merely a sop to the masses. Said by a former Montana resident (where they still have no sales tax). .GGpap
I feel the sales tax or (consumption tax) is the only fair tax. You pay for what you buy, not what you earn(income tax). Driving 40 miles (round trip Aiken to Augusta) would off set much of the potential savings on a tax holiday.
People can you see,Republicans are not good with managing state money. Please do not elect another Republican for the Governor race in 2010.
People, can you see? Democrats are a threat to our morality!
Why not do away with state income tax and have a 8.25% sales tax like Texas does? I loved getting my check and having nothing but Federal taxes taken out.
Every day should be sales tax free, not just three days in August. I hope that someone will approve of eliminating the sales tax in its entirety. And I mean 24/168/52.
I think that the federal income tax is the fairest tax of them all, since it is at 2% and not 8% like it is in some states' income taxes.
I don't care who becomes Governor in 2010 as long as he is a white man. If it's O.K. for a nation to vote for a do nothing, know nothing half white / half whatever for president just because his skin happens to be black then I suppose it is O.K. for me to vote for a Governor just because he is white.
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