RE: County Council’s vote on increasing taxes for City Businesses Scheduled 6/18
Dear Fellow Business Owners & Leaders,
I want to bring to your attention a tax proposal coming before Greenville County Council that has been kept under the radar. Proposed property tax increases of 8% (4.6 mil) for commercial and residential property located in the City Limits of Greenville, Greer, Mauldin and Simpsonville. And the grapevine says that it’s a "done deal".
You may or may not be aware that recently the SC Legislature passed a bill regarding Recreational Funding. What this legislation did was eliminate the ability for municipalities to be exempt from County Recreational Taxes. It allows County Council the ability to vote to increase taxes in municipalities for County Recreation capital projects and operations.
It is my understanding that this issue is to be voted on as a resolution, which only requires one reading at County Council and the vote is final. A typical bill must receive 3 readings, which would allow time for the media to get hold of it and opposition to organize. This issue passed quickly through the State House. It has also moved quickly through required recreation district votes to dissolve the special district. The recreational district commissioners took their final vote on Tuesday, June 11, which allowed this proposals public hearing and vote to be placed on County Council’s next meeting’s agenda. Greenville County Council’s next meeting is Tuesday, June 18th. The meeting begins at 6:00 at Council Chambers at County Square, 301 University Ridge.
An argument that is being used in defense of the proposal is that it is revenue neutral. If so, why are they voting to disrupt what is currently working? Municipalities don’t benefit from many services paid for by our current county property tax, including sheriff’s office services and road repairs. Why must we now be taxed extra to pay for County Parks and Recreation, when our cities already have great recreational departments?
As business owners and leaders we need to rally and speak up against our taxes being increased! I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford it. (Not to mention school taxes are expected to increase by 3+ mil this year).
Please join me in addressing council at their meeting on June 18, at 6pm. Speaker sign up ends at 5:45. If you can’t attend, please call your County Councilman and tell him not vote for the tax increase. Also, please share this information with others.
If you have any questions, please call me 915-3831 or e-mail [email protected].
If we do not speak up, we will once again suffer from increased taxes and decreased margins.
Dr. Amanda Somers, PT
SSI President/Co-Owner