14
Dec
New Taxes? Bill McAbee says NO
Upon a proposal for a new sales tax, my councilman, Bill McAbee stood his ground and voted NO. The resolution passed 5-2. Cindy Wilson joined McAbee. It would create a committee to make plans on spending the new money on our roads with matching funds from the state’s infrastructure bank. Why can’t government fund these projects with spending cuts elsewhere and from growth increases?
December 16th, 2005 at 8:25 pm
I have been saying all along that our local government never makes the tough decisions. It is a joke.
The vote to establish a tax study commission is an endorsement for the tax increase. That’s all it is a tax increase.
Our county government is growing at an astronomical rate. Just this year our budget grow 15%. The county consumed the growth (almost $12 Million)with fluff projects, then raised the taxes to increase the Sheriff’s budget.
We have puppets on County Council. With the exception of Bill McAbee, Michael D. Thompson, and Cindy Wilson.
Larry Greer proposed and got a 1.5 mil tax decrease, before he voted for a 2 mill tax increase. Sound familar. Flip Flop Larry needs to be sent home. Bill Dees is worthless, and clueless.
Hopefully, the republican party will do something about these rino’s. Hopefully, somebody will have a backbone and call a spade a spade. The leaders of the party need to stand up to these anti republican, tax raising liberals.
Oh yeah, Larry Greer needs to come out of the closet. “Prayer Closet” that is. What a wimp.
Merry Christmas
December 16th, 2005 at 8:25 pm
I have been saying all along that our local government never makes the tough decisions. It is a joke.
The vote to establish a tax study commission is an endorsement for the tax increase. That’s all it is a tax increase.
Our county government is growing at an astronomical rate. Just this year our budget grow 15%. The county consumed the growth (almost $12 Million)with fluff projects, then raised the taxes to increase the Sheriff’s budget.
We have puppets on County Council. With the exception of Bill McAbee, Michael D. Thompson, and Cindy Wilson.
Larry Greer proposed and got a 1.5 mil tax decrease, before he voted for a 2 mill tax increase. Sound familar. Flip Flop Larry needs to be sent home. Bill Dees is worthless, and clueless.
Hopefully, the republican party will do something about these rino’s. Hopefully, somebody will have a backbone and call a spade a spade. The leaders of the party need to stand up to these anti republican, tax raising liberals.
Oh yeah, Larry Greer needs to come out of the closet. “Prayer Closet” that is. What a wimp.
Merry Christmas
January 25th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Senator, I’ve enjoyed reading your blog, but I disagree with you on this issue. The Capital Project Sales Tax makes good fiscal sense. It is the cornerstone of Anderson’s request for 150M from the SC Transportation Infrastructure Bank. This, as I understand it, is how the numbers break down. Should it pass, the Capital Project Sales Tax will last for seven years. During that time, it will produce, according to conservative estimates, 80 million dollars of revenue. Since Anderson is a shopping hub for Oconee, Pickens, Abbeville and NE Georgia, about 30 million will come from non-residents. If Anderson’s request is granted, then we will get 150 million from the Infrastructure bank. So, practically speaking, Anderson County residents invest about 50 million one penny at a time over 7 years, and will see at least a 180 million dollar return. All of that money will go to specific road improvements designed to boost the local economy and create jobs. This is a once in a lifetime chance, and all it requires is a small extra investment over seven years, instead of millions and millions and millions of dollars taxpayers would otherwise have to invest over the next few decades to get the same amount of improvement. Its a smart investment, and will improve our quality of life.
Joey Oppermann
USC School of Law
Anderson Resident
January 25th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Senator, I’ve enjoyed reading your blog, but I disagree with you on this issue. The Capital Project Sales Tax makes good fiscal sense. It is the cornerstone of Anderson’s request for 150M from the SC Transportation Infrastructure Bank. This, as I understand it, is how the numbers break down. Should it pass, the Capital Project Sales Tax will last for seven years. During that time, it will produce, according to conservative estimates, 80 million dollars of revenue. Since Anderson is a shopping hub for Oconee, Pickens, Abbeville and NE Georgia, about 30 million will come from non-residents. If Anderson’s request is granted, then we will get 150 million from the Infrastructure bank. So, practically speaking, Anderson County residents invest about 50 million one penny at a time over 7 years, and will see at least a 180 million dollar return. All of that money will go to specific road improvements designed to boost the local economy and create jobs. This is a once in a lifetime chance, and all it requires is a small extra investment over seven years, instead of millions and millions and millions of dollars taxpayers would otherwise have to invest over the next few decades to get the same amount of improvement. Its a smart investment, and will improve our quality of life.
Joey Oppermann
USC School of Law
Anderson Resident
February 1st, 2006 at 4:29 am
Congrats to Bill McAbee for making his stand, and thanks for supporting Bill!
February 1st, 2006 at 2:34 pm
Congrats to Bill McAbee for making his stand, and thanks for supporting Bill!
February 6th, 2006 at 12:06 am
I see that Joey O. is being schooled very well in the jingoistic liberal fashion of, “the government can spend my money much better than I can myself”…He should be a very good democrat party official or candidate someday in the future.
February 6th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
I see that Joey O. is being schooled very well in the jingoistic liberal fashion of, “the government can spend my money much better than I can myself”…He should be a very good democrat party official or candidate someday in the future.
February 6th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
Well, here’s an idea. Why don’t raise the sales tax but keep the property tax? We could use the money to improve these pot-holed roads or to improve South Carolina schools. We could better fund state colleges that are overlooked such as Lander and Winthrop Universities. We could better equip law enforcement to deal with our rising violent crime rate. Or we could New Deal reminiscient public works projects to boost South Carolina’s sagging economy.
There are dozens of worthy uses for extra income, but you can’t trim the fat if only flesh is left.
February 6th, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Well, here’s an idea. Why don’t raise the sales tax but keep the property tax? We could use the money to improve these pot-holed roads or to improve South Carolina schools. We could better fund state colleges that are overlooked such as Lander and Winthrop Universities. We could better equip law enforcement to deal with our rising violent crime rate. Or we could New Deal reminiscient public works projects to boost South Carolina’s sagging economy.
There are dozens of worthy uses for extra income, but you can’t trim the fat if only flesh is left.