S 1290 Joint Resolution, By Campsen, McConnell, Thomas, Grooms, Verdin, Cleary, 
Knotts, Scott, Ryberg and Ford
 A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3, ARTICLE X OF THE
 CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO
 AS TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY TO IMPOSE A SALES AND USE TAX TO
 EXEMPT HOMESTEADS FROM PROPERTY TAX LEVIED IN THE COUNTY FOR SCHOOL
 OPERATIONS, TO ALLOW THIS EXEMPTION ONLY PURSUANT TO A REFERENDUM HELD IN THE
 COUNTY IN THE MANNER THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROVIDES BY LAW, AND TO PROVIDE
 THAT AFTER THIS EXEMPTION TAKES EFFECT, EXCEPT WHERE A MORE RESTRICTIVE LIMIT
 ON ANNUAL INCREASES APPLIES, THE RATE OF PROPERTY TAX IMPOSED IN THE COUNTY
 FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS MUST NOT BE INCREASED BY AN ANNUAL RATE THAT EXCEEDS THE
 COMBINED PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN STATE PERSONAL INCOME GROWTH AND STATE
 POPULATION IN THE MOST RECENT YEAR FOR WHICH THIS DATA IS AVAILABLE.

   03/28/06  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   03/28/06  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-7
   03/28/06  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Martin (ch), Hutto,
                     Ritchie, Sheheen, Campsen

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3, ARTICLE X OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY TO IMPOSE A SALES AND USE TAX TO EXEMPT HOMESTEADS FROM PROPERTY TAX LEVIED IN THE COUNTY FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS, TO ALLOW THIS EXEMPTION ONLY PURSUANT TO A REFERENDUM HELD IN THE COUNTY IN THE MANNER THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROVIDES BY LAW, AND TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER THIS EXEMPTION TAKES EFFECT, EXCEPT WHERE A MORE RESTRICTIVE LIMIT ON ANNUAL INCREASES APPLIES, THE RATE OF PROPERTY TAX IMPOSED IN THE COUNTY FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS MUST NOT BE INCREASED BY AN ANNUAL RATE THAT EXCEEDS THE COMBINED PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN STATE PERSONAL INCOME GROWTH AND STATE POPULATION IN THE MOST RECENT YEAR FOR WHICH THIS DATA IS AVAILABLE.

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, subject to statutory authorization, the governing body of a county by ordinance may impose a sales and use tax in order to exempt homesteads from property taxes imposed in the county for school operations. This exemption, or its subsequent rescission, is allowed only pursuant to a referendum held in the county in the manner that the General Assembly provides by law. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Constitution, after the exemption allowed pursuant to this paragraph takes effect, except where a more restrictive limit applies, property taxes imposed for school operations must not increase by an annual rate that exceeds the combined percentage increase in state personal income growth and school district population growth in the most recent year for which that data is available."

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 allow the governing body of a county by ordinance to impose a sales and use tax in order to exempt homesteads from property taxes imposed in the county for school operations, to allow this exemption or its subsequent rescission only pursuant to a referendum held in the county in the manner that the General Assembly provides by law, and to provide that after the exemption takes effect in a county, except where a more restrictive limit applies, the rate of property tax imposed in a county for school operations must not increase annually by more than the combined percentage increase of state personal income growth and school district population growth in the most recent year for which that data is available?

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'."