What the heck is a "mill", anyway?
Adam Beam of The State newspaper offers an easy-to-understand explanation on his blog, Metro Desk:
Making sense of property taxes (or at least trying to)
By Adam Beam | Published: April 29, 2010
Do You Need Information About Tax Reform and Education Funding?
-
The Winter 2006 issue of "Council News" features "Property Taxes for Education Funding: Good, Bad, or Both?" by Bob Davis, CFO of Richland School District Two.
-
Find two segments of Council Update on ETV-SIC Streaming Video, where Mr. Davis explains "Education Funding: The Basics" and "Education Funding: Beyond the Basics".
-
-
Holley Hewitt Ulbrich and Ada Louise Steirer from the Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University have developed two Citizen's Guides to help people understand state government financing and education funding:
-
-
Visit the SC General Assembly page at scstatehouse.gov and click on Citizen’s Interest to learn more about property tax reform.
Remember property tax reform?
From the SC-SIC newsletter, Council News, Fall, 2006:
"South Carolina’s balanced tax structure of property, sales, income, and fees has been praised across our country by economists of every stripe. Immediately following the enactment of the new law, a “Negative Outlook” by Wall Street’s Moody’s Investor Services was issued for South Carolina’s school districts. This will result in increased interest cost for our school districts."
Understanding H.4449 - Property Tax Reform Legislation -Bob Davis, Guest Columnist
Do You Understand the Voucher/Tax Credit Debate?
- The hot debate now raging across South Carolina about vouchers/tax credits in the public school system began with the introduction of the "Put Parents in Charge" bill a few sessions ago.
- The legislation proposed by Governor Mark Sanford and members of the state legislature would allow individuals and businesses to receive state income tax credits in return for dollars spent to pay tuition for students to attend private schools.
- Proponents of the bill say school choice should be available for all parents and that the legislation could actually provide more money for public education. A stated purpose of the bill is to "expand educational opportunities for children of families living in poverty."
- Those opposed to the bill said it would do just the opposite: cut funding for public schools and leave poor children behind in under-funded schools while helping the wealthy to send their children to private schools. They said the bill is unproven, unaccountable and unaffordable.
- Ultimately, the bill did not pass. However, the fight is not over. Click the link below to understand the bill that started it all.
Understanding the "Put Parents in Charge" Bill
Education Equity Lawsuit
- Eight rural school districts sued the state of South Carolina over a decade ago contending that the state did not provide them enough funding to provide the “minimally adequate” education required by the state constitution.
- Judge Thomas Cooper issued a ruling on the lawsuit in 2006.