[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6603848,"mediaKeyId","2997780-5183f6d7e21eb7f02aca0705a17ec476","parentId",2997780,"title","Contentious hearing on boat property tax (S.317) ends with committee carrying bill over after proposing phased amendment","audioSeconds",3361,"startMs",1691000,"endMs",5052000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997780-5183f6d7e21eb7f02aca0705a17ec476&start=1691&end=5052","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997780-5183f6d7e21eb7f02aca0705a17ec476/thumbnail_1691000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603848/South-Carolina/Contentious-hearing-on-boat-property-tax-S317-ends-with-committee-carrying-bill-over-after-proposing-phased-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603848-aba4264c43402c7cee09c149ef584f90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771015908&Signature=MX3af5~PRWS14qs5f38wAaXKKgE1D1V~8jyEK9zWKbnm6ZQmgGUNn4ysqCSBzftSOD3T~x4iYD8ZTdP80b5O2pEEqdnzdxD2uR3tQQLwSZ05WqbH41lW8KreKPN2000nwrmE1YehtAe~tE-RWDVCERo1~7In6A3uPXc49BkmIiPH12yPbd2yHUb62zfBoW5Zxx-Y8K8T8ODju4hBpJM2XfYO6FTZNHwg01~R6PzLnynt3yaIlwm9SipFR-vSeUGwoLaoeZurS76rV-NRknb4Mv3OZaxpgUhlTLN5aLmmh0E-3TCWm9N~3jX97EfpRAEsFqRgz6wtH8z13dmTnWNTJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The subcommittee heard several hours of testimony and debate on S.317, a bill to reduce the taxable assessed value of watercraft in South Carolina. After testimony from boat owners, industry groups and county officials, the chair asked staff to draft a compromise amendment and the subcommittee carried the bill over to allow more time for analysis.

Sponsor remarks framed the bill as restoring competitiveness and keeping boats in South Carolina. \"We're one of 13 states that currently levies an annual property tax on personal watercraft. Of those 13, South Carolina ranks dead last,\" a bill sponsor told the panel, citing comparisons of typical county millage. The sponsor said many buyers register expensive boats out of state and that the bill would provide relief to more than 600,000 South Carolinians.

Industry and advocacy witnesses, including a representative of the Boating and Fishing Alliance, told senators they had data showing that a large share of high-value boats purchased by South Carolina residents are registered out of state; one witness said \"almost 80% of the boats priced above a hundred and $20,000 and purchased by South Carolina residents are registered out of our state.\"

County officials and auditors from inland and small rural counties warned that a statewide 50% reduction in assessed value would shift a substantial recurring revenue burden onto counties, schools and other local services. Saluda County Chair Jim Moore said the county\u0000s share of the reduction would be about $400,000, saying the loss would equal \"5 mills\" for his local budget and require either raising millage, cutting services or laying off staff. Oconee County auditor Christy Hubbard told the committee a 6% effective assessment ratio cut would reduce Oconee\u0000s revenue by roughly $2 million and equal about 10 mills for county and school budgets.

Association of Counties representative Owen Bridal (Association of Counties) urged caution, noting five coastal counties already adopted lower assessment ratios and arguing a single statewide 50% cut could cost counties roughly $60 million annually. \"When you give a small group of people a property tax exemption, it's born by the rest of the people,\" he said.

To find compromise, the committee chair asked staff to prepare an amendment with several features: (1) a definition of \"watercraft\" and related motor/titling clarifications, (2) a replacement assessment factor of 42.8571% (which would produce an effective 6% assessment ratio), (3) a phased implementation equally over three years so counties would not face the full revenue loss in a single year, and (4) an implementation schedule keyed to the property tax year beginning after 2025 so the first phase would begin with the 2026 property tax year. The staff draft was presented as a concept during the hearing; the subcommittee voted to carry S.317 over to allow further work and for full committee members to review the proposal.

Senators expressed broad sympathy for boat owners while repeatedly noting the policy would constitute a tax shift. Several senators said data from counties that previously lowered boat assessment ratios did not show a large repatriation of registrations and thus that revenue replacement could not be guaranteed. The subcommittee did not adopt final language but asked staff and stakeholders to return with more detailed fiscal projections and options for mitigating impacts on smaller counties.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance Committee -- Finance Property Tax Subcommittee April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Finance Committee\u0000property tax subcommittee carried over S.317 after hours of testimony over a proposed 50% reduction to watercraft assessed value; members requested staff draft a three-year phased amendment to move the assessment toward an effective 6% ratio.","taxTitle","Finance, Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17657,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6603853,"Subcommittee backs raising reimbursement cap for manufacturing property tax exemption to $300 million",224,1410000,1634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997780-5183f6d7e21eb7f02aca0705a17ec476&start=1410&end=1634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997780-5183f6d7e21eb7f02aca0705a17ec476/thumbnail_1410000.jpg","/articles/6603853/South-Carolina/Subcommittee-backs-raising-reimbursement-cap-for-manufacturing-property-tax-exemption-to-300-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603853-a322da638be6da9729b76632b052cf2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771015908&Signature=Eibqv7TH3j0aR8UscdwR6CXtCYK3xWXIZID09EflqD9mGVb-V1341A7WOpzNUHOnyaNMIb-nGTLZen9j75-j7yUfA2oNqg~LtpBWvi1zd1m53UWVx1OtdlXpvnAOb6yT41mv6tyFC13~Lzl~x4-hAGbN5moEbm3jxKAjWRwk9uqJHGWr-m18X4vTkAP6dstnZV2XXQFO7dSKSMoIlh5McolcRQ8pR0e1X68r1MYkQuGd-9ZrOagX04EvlijCRqoqVR5gMMEun13Aasq-2tkfD4ucxGAXpsQp~ATRu6g-91WZpK2FJ~Udsf8sEOByem0bDlzSYzFoSa9XmpWJfwcY1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The subcommittee voted to give a favorable report to S.1, a bill that raises the statutory cap for reimbursements to local governments tied to the manufacturing property tax exemption from $170,000,000 to $300,000,000.

Under current law, a portion of the assessed value of manufacturing property receives a reduced assessment ratio; that exemption is reimbursed to counties through a state mechanism. \"This exemption is reimbursed to local governments in the same manner as the trust fund for property tax relief,\" a staff summary said. The bill would effectively keep the assessment ratio at 6% for qualifying manufacturing property by increasing the statutory cap on reimbursements.

Alan Klump of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance spoke in support, saying the change \"stops a tax increase on manufacturers\" and helps manufacturers avoid pursuing fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements. Staff projected the reimbursement cap is likely to be reached in a coming year; one witness estimated next year's projected pressure on the cap at roughly $25\u0000$30 million and said raising the cap helps avoid an unintended tax increase next year.

The committee chair called for a motion; the subcommittee adopted a favorable report by voice vote. The chair said staff would be available if members wanted to hear additional technical detail from agency witnesses.

Supporters framed the bill as protecting the state's manufacturing competitiveness and avoiding ad hoc budget provisos; opponents did not mount extended public opposition at the subcommittee hearing.","The subcommittee gave a favorable report to S.1, a bill that raises the statutory reimbursement cap for the manufacturing property tax exemption from $170 million to $300 million; supporters said the change prevents an effective tax increase on manufacturers when the existing cap is reached.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6603858,"Senate subcommittee advances bills adding minimum qualifications, training for county treasurers and auditors",1239,36000,1275000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997780-5183f6d7e21eb7f02aca0705a17ec476&start=36&end=1275","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997780-5183f6d7e21eb7f02aca0705a17ec476/thumbnail_36000.jpg","/articles/6603858/South-Carolina/Senate-subcommittee-advances-bills-adding-minimum-qualifications-training-for-county-treasurers-and-auditors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603858-d470fb15412ca009571fa267ce89782c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771015908&Signature=kTM4g5dMV-6lf8EtiWWYSN2Z54dBSwGqCkWW~vqQFg2B1j3n1wm5FHInLyCWlAyB~wmSOpxZXgVIQJEL6QYe9vGofUNWFCW053VgXCavx1V5XyttXS6WOCgGpyMPvtWD1f6zpC34jUyRAMVpl-6HQC8qh7ASQRh5VsO54LBzt2SsLAtMMAKGiCLDobo1SS23txiWBNMCdMpl2CihVu8XYvvKn0toolT4~lAhYF0cOpyKKFziWXltT4xG3EqGJPBnYOlC9JYh-e29l5975q49UFyG9QQYDbft-p5fTU484FawwX5tRBx-C5TsijXqlAYFGN2fAlxWqTF7hxNHEz7Plw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance Committee\u0000property tax subcommittee on Thursday voted to give favorable reports as amended to two bills (S.97 and S.98) that would set minimum qualifications and training requirements for county treasurers and county auditors across South Carolina.

Supporters said the measures are designed to professionalize offices that currently have no uniform statutory qualifications. \"Our state association, the South Carolina Association of Auditors, Treasurers, and Tax Collectors are in support of this,\" Jason Phillips, Anderson County treasurer, told the subcommittee. Phillips said the association set these changes as a legislative priority and described plans for an initial orientation session to smooth transitions when newly elected officers take office in July.

The bills would require that candidates be U.S. and South Carolina citizens, a qualified elector in the county they would serve, and show either a four-year bachelor\u0000s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or economics, or at least four years of relevant experience in accounting, financial management, financial reporting, budgeting, as an employee in a treasurer\u0000s office in the state, or as a treasurer in the state. Language discussed at the hearing would also add a 40-hour initial training for newly elected or appointed treasurers and auditors and specify a forfeiture for failing to complete training; the existing annual training requirement is an 18-hour academy administered by the Department of Revenue.

Senators pressed witnesses about whether any current officeholders would be disqualified by the new language. \"Is there anybody who would be negatively affected who is a current treasurer that would get caught in this continue to serve language?\" asked Senator Morrie. Witnesses said they expected current treasurers and auditors \"to be grandfathered in,\" and the committee adopted amendments to add explicit grandfathering and to clarify the training requirement would not be mandatory for incumbents.

The subcommittee formally adopted the amendment package on S.97 and then offered the same amendments to S.98; both bills received voice votes in favor. The committee chair indicated staff would prepare final amendment language before the full committee hearing.

Supporters said the proposals align treasurer and auditor qualifications with other elected offices that have statutory requirements and aim to reduce transition problems when new officers take office in July, a month when audits and millage-setting overlap. Opponents and some senators emphasized concerns about imposing new statutory qualifications on elected offices and the need to ensure any change would not unexpectedly disqualify people who had been lawfully elected.

The subcommittee record shows the measures advanced with a directive that staff draft the precise grandfathering and training language in time for full committee consideration.","A finance subcommittee voted to give favorable reports to S.97 and S.98 after approving amendments that add minimum education/experience requirements, a phased-in 40-hour initial orientation and grandfathering language for current officeholders.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6603844,"Subcommittee approves amendment requiring referendum for newly incorporated cities to impose operating millage",108,6577000,6685000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997780-5183f6d7e21eb7f02aca0705a17ec476&start=6577&end=6685","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997780-5183f6d7e21eb7f02aca0705a17ec476/thumbnail_6577000.jpg","/articles/6603844/South-Carolina/Subcommittee-approves-amendment-requiring-referendum-for-newly-incorporated-cities-to-impose-operating-millage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603844-2ee47d69744ba09b846a851055da7f12/orig.mp4?Expires=1771015908&Signature=lg0tLPiJUUHHiHxUtWgclEwU5qWYK0k6ivKL~Y9C7-Ju6zXf2qQB6dtMCt3N7OmFjKrrILMQQvIfpgR~E7jtOonnUHPNR5dwtL8hiibtt~tfiM2IQ1p~hW6yVvuBzTWBsquvTUu0FBlHPONBxQLdq-HIU1m-Qiy8rxWmq9W-pDualfOFoAi9C7P9M1BHvdwS5vQQIwyPQ6ELYEGOxM150-lajnafvGFiXDhm6ILE18pYm8p0ReO72A84lYEBX~Iwkeh0MJ0YriZA-dNhuF88a6Sk6fh~hUDD7D82MP6SgPsY04C9pJDRJ-1Fu9iYUj-J3Ggd5RdOALMRsF4wgJCqQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The subcommittee voted to give a favorable report to S.102 with an amendment requiring a local referendum before a city that previously had no operating millage may impose one.

S.102 provides a mechanism for cities that had no operating millage on Jan. 1, 2025 (or that incorporate after that date) to impose an operating millage that would generate up to one-third of the municipality\u0000s prior-year general fund expenses. During discussion the committee considered technical changes for newly incorporated cities that lack a prior-year budget. Municipal association representatives said they were not enthusiastic about a blanket requirement but acknowledged the referendum language as an acceptable compromise.

Under the amendment the decision to impose an operating millage in a previously non-millage city would be submitted to local voters. The subcommittee adopted the amendment and advanced the bill by voice vote.

Supporters said the change protects local control and ensures voters in newly incorporated or previously non-millage municipalities have a direct say before a new operating millage is imposed. Municipal staff and association representatives asked for technical drafting to align effective dates and application to newly incorporated municipalities.","S.102, a bill allowing cities with no operating millage to impose an operating millage to generate one-third of general fund expenses, was advanced as amended to require voter approval by referendum for municipalities that previously had no operating millage.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Contentious hearing on boat property tax (S.317) ends with committee carrying bill over after proposing phased amendment

Subcommittee backs raising reimbursement cap for manufacturing property tax exemption to $300 million

Senate subcommittee advances bills adding minimum qualifications, training for county treasurers and auditors

Subcommittee approves amendment requiring referendum for newly incorporated cities to impose operating millage