Point of sale hurts state economy

Our current property tax laws are dramatically impacting our state's economy. Millions of dollars and potential homebuyers and business owners are locating to North Carolina and Georgia instead of investing in South Carolina - just ask your local Realtor or anyone that has recently purchased a home, renovated their existing home, or opened a new business. Property tax assessments that automatically take place when you buy or renovate real property are dramatically increasing property taxes. That's why Realtors believe that lowering your property taxes must remain the top legislative priority at the Statehouse.

Instead of working with homeowners and business owners, those opposed to lowering your property taxes have engaged in misleading rhetoric. Without credibility, they say point of sale has not impacted our real estate market. They would rather that we sit idly as the recession eats away at the morale of this great state, while local government reaps the tax windfall. It's time to put an end to the rhetoric. Businesses are failing, and families are losing their jobs while school boards and local governments are sitting on cash reserves in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Clearly, there is a problem when South Carolinians cannot pay their bills and are losing their jobs, while local governments are not just staying fat, but growing even fatter.

Addressing point of sale is paramount to attracting commercial investment and job creation in South Carolina. I applaud the South Carolina House of Representatives, which has already passed this legislation, and the South Carolina Senate in recognizing the importance of this issue, which is why H. 3272 was set for special order to ensure swift action when the Senate convenes in January.

Here are the facts: Point of sale assessment results in disparate property tax burden between neighboring properties, higher office and store rental costs for South Carolina businesses, higher rents for nonhomeowners, increased pricing on the goods and services South Carolinians enjoy, disincentives to transfer property, inequitable tax burdens based on whether a property has transferred, and property devaluation. All of this forces businesses looking to locate in South Carolina to take their investment and jobs elsewhere. More than $500 million of commercial investment in South Carolina has been lost this year alone. That's just the tip of the iceberg.

We must and we can reverse this trend. It's not rocket science - commercial and residential investment spurs job growth, consumer spending, employment, economic mobility and broadening of the tax base; in turn, revenue to local governments and schools will grow as well. In fact, I think it's narrow minded that those opposed to lowering your property taxes cannot see the immediate economic expansion that H. 3272 will foster.

Those who don't want to lower your property taxes argue that H. 3272 is just another patch to the tax reform legislation that was passed in 2006, known as Act 388. South Carolina Realtors agree that Act 388 has some serious long-term problems. H. 3272 has a shelf life of only 5 years - enough time to provide an immediate, short-term catalyst to reignite our economy and put South Carolinians back to work. H. 3272 gives the Tax Realignment Commission and the General Assembly the time to do what needs to be done - an overhaul of the entire tax code.

Together, we can put South Carolina back on the path to economic growth. By passing H. 3272 in January, the Senate will send South Carolina's citizens and businesses the clear message that the South Carolina is ready to compete again.

Lawana Furtick

President

Aiken Board of Realtors

We owe war veterans forever

It amazes me how an American man or woman can be asked to serve their country to whatever extent necessary. To risk or even give their life for the service of country and then be pushed aside and apparently forgotten because he/she is of no further use.

What is even more amazing is that many of these warriors will say they would do it again for the service of their country if called upon. How should we repay this gallantry? I feel American citizens should never compromise anything for these heroes. Can you imagine where this country would be if not for the willingness of these soldiers?

I believe if a soldier is wounded in battle, we owe them the best medical treatment available and only by the best facilities and paid for 100 percent without restrictions by an appreciative nation. They should not be shuttled about or made to find their own way for their treatments. We also owe them vocational retraining, continued education, housing and any additional care they may need for the remainder of their compromised lives.

How do we pay for this commitment to the wounded veterans? Simple, eliminate unmerited support of any type to people in this country that do not contribute to our society or who are here illegally. Our failure to support our American patriots for as long as necessary spits in the eye of the values they actually stand for. Loyal Americans should hold our leaders accountable to these heroes. We should stand firm and say, "No, you will not mistreat these individuals that were willing to serve without compromise and risk their lives so that we could continue to live in and enjoy a free nation."

Ernie McFerrin

North Augusta

Renovate County office complex

I, for one, was delighted to see that the County Council is actually considering reuse and expansion for their new complex. ("County complex may get new addition," Oct. 15). I frequently have reason to visit the existing facility, and, yes, it is old and tired and in need of renovation and expansion.

The house my husband and I purchased when we moved here did, too, and so did my mother's 100-year-old house and my grandmother's 200-year-old homestead, and probably most of the buildings in old Europe, the parts we love to visit. Renovation derives from the concept of recycling. It is moral, honors our history and is creative. I would love to see some architectural reuse specialists rise to the occasion of this challenge.

There are a number of reasons to pursue this option seriously. The City of Aiken is the county seat and the more commerce we attract to the city center the stronger we make our downtown. The old hospital evokes our history, as does the building that houses our library, the old post office, the museum and the two historical hotels. The county has nine acres to work with downtown. I can't imagine that they wouldn't be able to incorporate parking and the 120,000 square feet while maintaining the historical character of the current relic.

When I think of doing something new, necessarily on the cheap in today's economy, I think of the new fountain at Richland and Laurens, or that monstrosity that houses the central administration for the county schools. God, help us remember, new is not always better, please.

Joya Jimenez DiStefano

Aiken