PRIORITY ISSUES FOR 2010
1. Oppose point-of-sale assessment cap legislation.
2. Support the development of meaningful tax reform
recommendations by the State Tax Realignment Commission.
3. Reform State funding of public education
4. Support public school choice and oppose tuition tax credit
legislation
1. Oppose point-of-sale assessment cap legislation.
Oppose bill H.3272 that has passed the South Carolina House of Representatives and is now scheduled for consideration by the full Senate early in the 2010 session of the General Assembly.
The bill would cap the the increased in assessed value when property is reassessed at the time of sale or transfer. The increase could not exceed (would be capped) at 15% over the previous assessed value.
Read more about the bill and why it should be opposed.
2. Support the development of meaningful tax reform
recommendations by the State Tax Realignment Commission.
At the end of the 2009 state legislative session, a law was passed establishing the South Carolina Tax Realignment Commission (TRAC). The purpose of the commission is to "assess the effectiveness of the state's current tax structure and make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding necessary changes....Such changes must be designed to ensure that the state's tax structure is 'balanced' so that the system is 'adequate, equitable, and efficient."
The independent commission is composed of 11 individuals appointed by the Govenor and legislative leaders. The commission held its first meeting in November 2009 and is to complete its work by the end of 2010.
The Commission is needed, and its work supported, because the state's tax base has continued to narrow and the resulting revenue is increasingly unreliable. Piecemeal legislation passed by the General Assembly has shifted the state's tax structure from one that is broad-based with lower tax rates to a narrower base with higher rates. As a consequence the state's revenue stream fluctuates greatly with the ups and downs of the economy.
Read more about why our state needs comprehensive tax reform.
3. Reform State funding of public education
State government provides more than 60% of the operational funding for Greenville County Schools. The state's methods and ability to fund our public schools greatly impacts the capacity of state school districts to provide a quality education.
The state uses a hodge podge of state laws and mechanisms for funding PK-12 education. These methods are not efficient, not based on current classroom needs, and have been greatly weakened in recent years. For example, state funding for public schools was greatly damaged by the passage of a state law in 2006 (Act 388) that eliminated local property taxes on owner-occupied homes for school operations and "replaced" this revenue through a one-cent increase in the state sales tax.
Read more about this critical issue for our public schools.
4. Support public school choice and oppose tuition tax credit legislation.
School choice within the public school system provides parents with alternatives to their assigned school. This includes charter schools and within Greenville County Schools both magnet schools and open enrollment-assignment to another school that is below capacity.
Tuition tax credits and school vouchers (often called "scholarships") use state tax dollars to pay for student enrollment in a private school.
Tuition tax credit and school voucher legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Each time it was defeated by a narrow margin. A tuition tax credit/voucher bill was introduced in the Senate in 2009. It now resides in the Senate Education Committee.
The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE) supports public school choicebecause these options are both accountable to taxpayers and accessible to all students. Taxpayers know how their tax dollars are being spent at any school as well as each school's academic record. Poorly performing schools are publicly identified and are required to take specific steps to improve. All students have access to public school choices and transportation is often provided to choice schools.
The Alliance opposes all types of tuition tax credits and school vouchers because they lack the academic and financial accountability to taxpayers and the accessibility to all students found in the public schools.
Read more about the reasons for opposing tuition tax credit and school voucher legislation.
For additional facts on tuition tax credits and school vouchers read "Lack of Accountability," "No Achievement Gain," and "Parent Accountability Alone Doesn't Work ."
Contact your representatives in the state legislature to voice your opinion.