S 0091 Joint Resolution, By Thomas and Reese
 A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3, ARTICLE X OF THE
 CONSTITUTION, 1895, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO EXEMPT
 OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND MOTOR VEHICLES FROM PROPERTY TAX WITH
 THE REVENUE NOT COLLECTED THEREBY REPLACED BY A COUNTY SALES AND USE TAX
 IMPOSED AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL PROVIDE BY LAW AND TO PROVIDE THAT
 PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE RATES APPLICABLE IN THE COUNTY MAY NOT EXCEED THE MILLAGE
 RATE APPLICABLE FOR THE YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXEMPTIONS ALLOWED BY
 THIS AMENDMENT.

   12/11/02  Senate Prefiled
   12/11/02  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance
   01/14/03  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-56
   01/14/03  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance SJ-56

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3, ARTICLE X OF THE CONSTITUTION, 1895, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO EXEMPT OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND MOTOR VEHICLES FROM PROPERTY TAX WITH THE REVENUE NOT COLLECTED THEREBY REPLACED BY A COUNTY SALES AND USE TAX IMPOSED AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL PROVIDE BY LAW AND TO PROVIDE THAT PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE RATES APPLICABLE IN THE COUNTY MAY NOT EXCEED THE MILLAGE RATE APPLICABLE FOR THE YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXEMPTIONS ALLOWED BY THIS AMENDMENT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    It is proposed that Section 3, Article X of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding a new paragraph at the end to read:

"In addition to the exemptions provided and authorized in this section, owner-occupied residential property and motor vehicles are exempt from property tax with the revenue not collected thereby replaced by a county sales and use tax imposed in the manner that the General Assembly provides by law. After implementation of the exemptions allowed by this paragraph, property tax millage imposed by property taxing jurisdictions in the county must not exceed the millage imposed in the year of implementation of these exemptions."

SECTION    2.    The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Section 3, Article X of the Constitution of this State, relating to property tax exemptions, be amended so as to exempt owner-occupied residential property and motor vehicles from property tax with the revenue not collected thereby replaced by a county sales and use tax imposed as the General Assembly shall provide by law and to provide that property tax millage rates applicable in the county must not exceed the millage rate applicable for the year of implementation of the exemptions allowed by this amendment?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."