Is our State Broke?
…Or is our System Broken?
AN ANALYSIS
IN SUPPORT OF
COMPREHENSIVE TAX REFORM
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
Two Things We Hear in South Carolina:
“…But the state of South Carolina has no
money…”
“Our Taxes, Here in South Carolina, Are
Just Too High!”
True or False?
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
“But the State of South
Carolina Has No Money?”
Wi t h b u d g e t c u t a f t e r b u d g e t c u t …
and the state and country in the midst
o f a re c e s s i o n , t h e s e wo r d s a re o f t e n
u t t e re d .
B u t S o u t h C a ro l i n a h a s re a l n e e d s …
a n d c i t i ze n s c o n t i n u e t o e x p e c t b a s i c
s e r v i c e s s u c h a s e d u c a t i o n , s a f e t y, a n d
h e a l t h c a re .
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
But the State of S.C. Has No Money?
 Since 1953, South Carolina experienced negative revenue
growth only 2 times…
 But we are now entering our third year of negative
revenue growth (2009-10)…(revenue down $660 mil)
 The S.C. Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) has cut
revenue estimates 7 times in the last 9 months!


Education has suffered 9 rounds of cuts in 18 months ($700+mil)
Just this yr, k12 has had its low 2009-10 budget cut $317(1997 level)
 Just over the last year, the state of South Carolina has
lost over $1.3 billion in revenue… leading to multiple
budget cuts!
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What Has Happened to S.C. Revenue?
BEA to the TRAC, Dr. Bill Gillespie, September 30, 2009
 Since 2006, S.C. has cut 1/5 of the state budget (19% cut)
 S.C. now relies on the Sales (47%) and Personal Income
(40%) Taxes for a total of 87% of State Revenue
 S.C. Sales Tax Revenue has decreased (even though we’ve
increased the tax twice since 1984) due to:



Increased numbers of Sales Tax Exemptions
S.C. economy shifts from products to “services” (few are taxed)
Shift of sales to Internet (little-to-no S.C. taxation)
 Personal Income Tax Collections not kept up w/ growth
 All Remaining (non-Sales/Personal Income): only 13-15%
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
“Our Taxes here in South Carolina
are just too high!”
SC’s Overall State/Local Tax Burden:
37th highest nationally
Estimated at 8.8% of income
(below the national average of 9.7%)
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
Are South Carolina Taxes Too High?
The Tax Foundation, non-profit 501-c-3 since 1937: www.taxfoundation.org
 Sales Tax (6%): 25th
 Cigarette Tax


(7cents):50th
NC raised 10-cents to 45-cents
National Average: $1.34 -pack
 Gas Tax: 46th
(1987 last increase)
 Car Sales Tax: 40th
 Income Tax
Rate: 14th
 Overall: 35th
 Indiv. Property Tax: 34th
 Top
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
 Industrial/Commercial
Property Taxes: 7th

Due to Act 388 tax swap
 Business Climate Tax: 25th

Compares 5 areas:
corporate taxes; sales taxes;
unemployment insurance
taxes; indiv. income taxes;
& taxes on property
 Corporate Income Tax: 40th
South Carolina Taxes Versus the Nation
1
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
S.C. is Collecting 22% Less ($1.5
billion) in Tax Revenue than in 2006.
Why?
P e r m a n e n t Ta x C u t s h a v e E ro d e d s t a t e R e v e n u e S t re a m
( s i z e o f re d u c e d s t a t e re v e n u e s i n c e 2 0 0 6 )
•P r o p e r t y Ta x R e l i e f f o r H o m e o w n e r s ( s a l e s s w a p ) : $ 5 8 5 m i l l i o n
•To t a l E l i m i n a t i o n o f t h e S t a t e ’s G r o c e r y Ta x : $ 3 5 4 m i l l i o n
•E l i m i n a t i o n o f S . C . ’s b o t t o m i n c o m e t a x b r a c k e t : $ 8 6 m i l l i o n
•R e d u c t i o n o f t a x o n s m a l l b u s i n e s s e s ( 7 % t o 5 % ) : $ 1 2 9 m i l l i o n
* Source: State Budget Outlook presentation by SC Sen. Finance (Mike Shealy & Craig Parks)
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
The state’s not broke… Our revenue system is!
 Permanent tax cuts in strong
years (no revenue in lean!)
 Several taxes are some of
lowest in the country (i.e.
cigarettes, gas, cars)
 Property Taxes …& Act 388
 Sales Taxes …& Exemptions
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
 We collect little in the way
of “Internet Sales Taxes”
 Random tax incentives for
New (nothing for existing)
Businesses
 We tax fewer “Services”
than many states
 In a deep hole & won’t stop
digging! (19 new bills!!)
What Do We Tax in South Carolina?
The Three
Legged Stool
South Carolina’s Tax
Structure prior to 2007
In 2007, S.C. passed Act 388 which
eliminated owner-occupied property
taxes (for schools) in exchange for a 1cent state sales increase.
Prior to this, our state’s tax structure was
praised by economists because it was
balanced with three major sources of
revenue: sales, income and property
taxes. This three legged stool had
served our state well for decades.
Today, S.C. relies mostly on Income & Sales
Taxes to Fund most of its state budget…
largely a two-legged stool!
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What Did Act 388 do to S.C.’s Tax System?
 Act 388 shifted the tax burden from stable revenue
source (owner-occupied property) to a less reliable &
more volatile source (sales). With sales down 8-10%
in the current recession, so is state sales tax revenue
 Since the General Assembly (G.A.) has promised to
make up any lost 388 tax swap (sales tax) revenue, the
G.A. has been forced to budget $50 million (200809); $108 million (‘09-10); & an estimated $120
million (‘10-11) to reimburse school districts.
 A recent Anderson Independent report found that Act
388 has cost the state $585 million since 2006.
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
The Effects of Act 388 on Property Taxes
Dr. Robert Cline, Ernest & Young, LLP, “Broadening the Tax Base”
 Act 388 shifted the local burden of funding public
schools from homeowners to SC businesses (only 1 left!)
 SC business now pay 48% of the total S.C. property tax
collections (the U.S. average is only 33%)




Large Industrial Property: SC is 5th highest (74% above US av.)
Large Commercial Prop: SC is 20th highest (9% above US av.)
Homeowner Property: SC is 37-39th (34% below the US av.)
Property tax share of business taxes in SC is 36% higher than US
 388 created a tax incentive for people from NC to move
to SC, work & pay NC taxes, & bring children to schools
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
The Effects of Act 388 on Property Taxes
Rudolph Bell, Greenville News, December 23, 2009” and Ellen Saltzman, Clemson University’s Strom Thurmond Institute, December 2009
The difference in tax bills between owner-occupied
homes & 2nd homes or rental homes is much wider in
S.C. than in Georgia, N.C., Tennessee, & Virginia
 Prior to Act 388, the difference was 50%; now it is

141% higher in Beaufort County; 138% in Greenville; 133% in Clemson
 Grvl: For $1 million home, the bill is $7,756 if its classified




as a primary residence & $18,486 if classified as 2nd home
Grvl: For a $100,000 home, it is $776 vs. $1,849
Statewide: the differences can range from 119 – 165%
Consequence? Huge increase in % home classified: primary
Beaufort: increased from 25% to 40% (just fill out form!)
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What DO We Tax in South Carolina?
South Carolina’s State Sales Tax is 6%. The state raises $2.5 billion
annually through this tax.
By allowing 80 exemptions to this sales tax, the state exempts more
($2.7 billion) annually than it actually collects ($2.5)
S.C. could eliminate 95% of exemptions, cut the sales tax in ½ (6 to 3-cents),
and collect the exact same revenue ($2.5 billion)
S.C. taxpayers (w/ no deductions) are subsidizing those who enjoy these exemptions!
This naturally begs the question: in South Carolina… what do we
actually tax? {Cost of exemption to state in parenthesis.}
* Source: South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors “Sales & Use Tax Exemptions: Fiscal Year 2008-09”
(http://www.bcb.sc.gov/BCB/bea/exemptions.pdf). Note: The examples below are just some of the 80+
exemptions to the South Carolina state sales tax. See link for more info.
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What DO We Tax in South Carolina?
SC has a Vehicle Tax Exemption of a $300 cap on sales tax
 We collect $300 on the sale of a used 2006 - $5,000
Hyundai. We collect $300 on a $385,000 - 2009
Lamborghini Roadster – $22,800 exemption. {$152 mill}
 We collect $300 on a $36,000 BMW. N.C. collects
$1,080 & Georgia collects $2,520 on the same vehicle.
 We collect $300 on the sale of a $5,000 - 15 foot Sylvan
Smokercraft Fishing Boat. We collect $300 on a used
1982 – 126 foot $6.5 million Feadship Yacht – a $389,700
exemption. {$5 million}
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What DO We Tax in South Carolina?
 We collect 90 cents (6%) sales tax on a $15 model
airplane, but we cap the tax on a million dollar leer jet at
$300 - a $59,700 tax exemption. {$1.2 million}
 We collect $300 on the sale of a 1989 - $5,000 Chieftain
Winnebago. We collect $300 on a 2007 - $130,000 Coach
House Platinum Recreational Vehicle – a $7,500
exemption. {$7.9 million}
 We collect $300 on the sale of a 1973 - $5,000 Singlewide
(2 BR/1Ba/480 sq ft) Manufactured Home. We collect
$300 on a 2001 - $139,500 Doublewide Commander
Manufactured Home (4 BR/2Ba/2432 sq ft) which meets
certain energy efficiency standards – a $8,070 exemption.
{$26.6 million}
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What DO We Tax in South Carolina?
 We collect taxes on 1/2 of proceeds from the sale of a modular
home. We collect no taxes on the other half? {$1.9 million}
 We collect $4.14 on the sale of a Panasonic KXTS 2-line corded
phone at Wal-Mart. We collect nothing on the sale of “charges
for colored telephones and retractable cords” obtained through a
telephone company. {total customer exemptions: $22.8 million}
 We collect $18 in taxes for the sale of a Classic Lionel Train Set.
We collect no taxes on the sale of a $300,000 EMD 1750 HP
GP-9 Locomotive. {$352,710}
 We collect 18 cents on a $3 spool of string used to fly a kite. We
collect nothing on the sale of a spool of twine used to deliver
newspapers. {total containers exemption: $600,000}
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What DO We Tax in South Carolina?
 We collect 6 cents on a $1 pack of college rule paper. We
collect nothing on the sale of newsprint paper sold to
newspapers. {$5 million}
 We collect 42 cents on the sale of $7 College Football Preview
Magazines. We collect nothing on the sale of The State
newspaper. {$7 million}
 We collect taxes on the supplies and equipment bought by
coin-operated Laundromats. We collect no taxes on the sales of
supplies and equipment bought by laundries and dry-cleaners.
{total cleaner exemptions: $3.3 million}
 Banks charge customers $2 for use of an automated teller
machine – not affiliated with the person’s bank. The state
collects nothing for the transaction. {$5 million}
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What DO We Tax in South Carolina?
 We collect 14 cents tax on the dry cleaning of shirt. We collect
nothing on the dry cleaning for ships involved in intercoastal
trade. {total vessel bunkering exemptions: $1.5 million}
 We collect taxes on gloves used by farmers in cleaning out
chicken cage houses. We collect nothing on the sale of
automatic clean-out systems for cage houses.
 We collect $35 on the sale of a 9-ft G-3 Jon Boat. We collect
nothing on the sale of a $15 million – New Hopper 560-ft
Barge. {$169,546}
 We collect taxes on the broadcasting tower for an FM Radio
Station. We collect no taxes on the broadcasting tower for an
AM Radio Station.
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What DO We Tax in South Carolina?
 We collect taxes on a Dinner Cruise in Charleston. We collect
no taxes on a vacation time-share near the Battery in
downtown Charleston. {$5.3 million}
 We collect $60 in taxes on the sale of new asphalt for your
driveway. We collect nothing for the sale of asphalt products
transported and consumed out of South Carolina. {$614,000}
 We collect sales taxes on concession items sold at the State
Fair. We collect no taxes on concession sales at the annual
Ridgeway Pig on the Ridge Festival. {$475,000}
 We collect taxes on the sale of a new chassis for the rebuilding
of a C-10 Chevy. We collect no taxes on the chassis sold to
international shipping lines. {$550,000}
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What DO We Tax in South Carolina?
 We collect $12 in taxes on the sale of a carburetor for the
engine of a Chevrolet Nova. We collect no taxes on the sale of
parts/supplies used in repairing commercial air carriers.
{$562,000}
 We collect taxes on the sales of Carolina and Clemson football
tickets. We collect no taxes on lottery tickets. {$47.6 million}
 We collect taxes on 30% of the gross proceeds of the rental of
a portable toilet. We collect no taxes on the other 70% of the
toilet. {$332,976}
 We collect taxes on a family’s outing to Chuck-E-Cheese. We
collect no taxes on an amusement park ride (or anything
connected building/repairing rides). {$3.9 million}
{These are just 25 of the over 80 sales tax exemptions! For examples of all 80 exemptions, go to What
Do We Tax in SC? @ http://www.oldeenglishconsortium.org/activities/board_of_directors.aspx}
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
Comparison of Gross vs. Net Sales Taxes
Mike Shealy & Craig Parks, SC Senate Finance Committee, 1.22.2010 and Department of Revenue’s Annual Report, 2009
Sales Taxes
FY1999
FY2008
Gross Sales
$94billion
$146billion
+55%
Net Taxable
Sales Amount
$45billion
$59billion
+32%
% Change of Net
Taxable Sales
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
47.9%
40.8%
%Change
Sales Tax Exemption for Guns!
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE
TAX EXEMPTIONS, IN 2009 THE
STATE OF S.C. ADDED A “TAX
FREE WEEKEND” FOR GUN
PURCHASES (THANKSGIVING)
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
S.C. Loses Revenue on Internet Sales
2010 University of Tennessee Study
 S.C. lost $94 million last year in uncollected Internet sales
taxes. This year, S.C. is expected to lose $110 million
 From 2007 to 2012, S.C. is projected to lose $569 million!
 Most S.C. citizens are unaware that they are required to
pay sales taxes on all Internet purchases, by either:


Pay the sales taxes on line 26 of the S.C. Income Tax Return
Bring in receipt to DOR each time you make purchase & pay
Other states have adopted procedures to collect Internet tax!
NC law increased Internet sales tax collections by $500 mil
(w/o internet collections, SC businesses competition disadv.)
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
Tax Incentives for New S.C.
Businesses
O v e r t h e y e a r s , S C h a s o ff e r e d t a x i n c e n t i v e p a c k a g e s o n
an individual, case-by-case basis… not a part of a
c o m p re h e n s i v e j o b - c re a t i o n , p ro - b u s i n e s s o v e r - a rc h i n g
s t a t e s t r a t e g y.
In the past ten years, the special tax incentives have
i n c r e a s e d f r o m $ 3 2 m i l l i o n t o $ 2 5 4 m i l l i o n p e r y e a r.
Once these tax incentives are “in,” they are “in.” Often,
there is no “clock” for when all tax incentives expire.
How are existing businesses supported? Do they end up
p a y i n g f o r t h e s e i n c e n t i v e s f o r o u t - o f - s t a t e b re a k s ?
What does this do to the overall tax burden/revenue?
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
“Do We Tax “Services”
in South Carolina?”
S.C. taxes only 35 (out of the
possible 170) services!
This is significantly less than in
other states (@ bottom nationally).
New “growth” items: not taxed
Traditional SC products: taxed, no growth
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
S.C. and the Taxing of Services
Jim Eads, Executive Director, Federation of Tax Administrators, January 6, 2010
Since we’ve moved from an Industrial to Service economy,
many states have adjusted tax structures accordingly!
 Nebraska recently found itself in a recession… and has
increased from 55 to 74 services taxed (to balance revenue)
 What are other states doing? (to spread & lower tax burden)



Florida: taxes 63 services
Tennessee: taxes 67 services
West Virginia: taxes 105 services
 Why? Spread the tax burden on broader base to lower rates
 If SC taxed all feasibly taxable services, we could raise
$955 million in revenue (or decrease all accordingly)
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
The state’s not broke… Our revenue system is!
Cigarette, Gas, & Car Taxes
(ranked between #40-50):

$300-800 million per year
Property Taxes (& Act 388):

$2.7 billion per year
Internet Taxes Not Collected:

$110 million per year
Random Annual Tax Incentives:

Could SC “plug the hole in the
leaky ship” & adequately fund
essential services ($1.5 billion)?
Could SC drastically lower tax
rates for all South Carolinians?
$32 – 254 million per year
“Service” Taxes Not Collected:

Uncollected Revenue, current rate
 Approx. $4-5 billion annually
$150 million per yr. (*no local)
Sales Tax Exemptions

Bottom Line
$955 million per year
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
Could we do BOTH?
“So… How Did We Get in
This Mess?”
Our State is not Broken…
Our current system of
taxation is!
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
Why Do We Need Tax Reform?
Our current system of taxation is a hodgepodge that has
evolved from tax cuts and tax shifts over the past 20 years
that has left the state with unstable and unreliable revenue
sources.
 We have cut tax sources during the good years leaving us
with insufficient resources during the down cycles.
 We have responded to the pressure of special interest
groups (mainly wealthy homeowners) to eliminate tax on
property, a very stable source of revenue, and shifted that
burden to sales tax, a very unstable source of revenue.
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
Why Do We Need Tax Reform?
Our system does not support infrastructure development
needed for the successful future operation of our state. It
only supports the state’s needs during the boom years.
We tax some goods & not others without any apparent reason
And it doesn’t stop! Our elders taught us that, when you look
up & find yourself deep in a hole… the first thing you’ve
got to do… is to stop digging! (at least until you analyze
how you got there… and what’s the best solution to get out)
Just this session, the General Assembly has introduced 19
new bills – giving new tax breaks to everything from
animal husbandry to geothermal heat pumps exemptions!
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
“So… What Can We Do to Change
our System & Get Out of This Mess?”
What are the
Fundamental Criteria
of a
Sound Tax Structure?
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
Fundamental Criteria of Tax Structure
Saltzman & Ulbrich, Strom Thurmond Institute
It must be competitive. It cannot be viewed as one that
discourages industries and people from coming to our state,
living in our state, expanding business in our state, and
investing in our state.
2. It must be adequate. It must support improvement of SC’s
economic foundations:
1.




3.
Educational and workforce quality systems
Infrastructure
Vibrant and growing communities
Overall quality of life
It must be equitable both horizontally and vertically. It
must be perceived as fair. No one segment should have
advantage at the expense of others. (Palmetto Institute)
The best approach is to have a broad tax base with the lowest
possible tax rates. This is not the way we are currently headed.
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
Fiscally Sustainable Revenue System
 A fiscally sustainable revenue system is a structure of
revenue streams, spending obligations, and reserve funds
that allow government to maintain an acceptable level of
public services over the long term and through
fluctuations in economic activity.
 A fiscally sustainable state revenue system will:




Raise adequate revenue to pay desired services
Raise revenue from a mix of sources while keeping tax rates low
Increase revenue at a rate no less than population growth plus
inflation
Be prepared for unanticipated spending needs and revenue shortfalls
Saltzman & Ulbrich, Strom Thurmond Institute
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
“So… What is Our General
Assembly Doing to Fix It?”
On June 24, 2009, the leaders of the
General Assembly passed S.12
creating the
“South Carolina Tax Realignment
Commission,”
also known as TRAC.
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What IS this “TRAC” Commission?
 TRAC is a temporary & independent commission comprised of
non-legislators. It is created to assess the effectiveness of the
current tax structure and make recommended changes to the
General Assembly by November, 2010 (dissolve Jan. 1, 2011).
 Members include:







Ken Wingate (CPA, JD – Gov. Sanford) * Jack Shuler (Speaker Harrell)
Brian Moody (CPA – Gov. Sanford)
* Bob Steelman (Chairman Cooper)
Don Weaver (Sen. McConnell)
* Kenneth Cosgrove (Chair Cooper)
Burnet Maybank, (JD - Sen. Leatherman)* Ray N. Stevens (DOR Director)
Ben Kochenower (CPA – Sen. Peeler)
* (Staff: Craig Parks, Sen. Finance)
Charles S. Way, Jr. (Sen. Land)
Jimmy Addison (Speaker Harrell)
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
“So… What Should I do about it?
How Can I Make A Difference?”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
S u p p o r t t h e g o a l o f Ta x R e f o r m & t h e w o r k o f T R A C .
Call your local Representatives & Senators NOW…
thanking them for passing S.12 (TRAC) & encouraging
t h e m t o v o t e t o s u p p o r t T R A C ’s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s .
Begin sharing (holding meetings and/or sharing at
e x i s t i n g m e e t i n g s ) … s h a r i n g t h e n e e d f o r t a x re f o r m i n
S o u t h C a ro l i n a & t h e s t r u c t u re f o r f u n d a m e n t a l c h a n g e
M a k e y o u r v o i c e h e a r d ( l e t t e r t o e d i t o r, c a l l / e m a i l , e t c )
A s k c a n d i d a t e s f o r o ff i c e h o w t h e y p l a n t o v o t e : T R A C
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
What Questions Should I Be Asking?
 (Share your belief that Tax Reform should be a top priority)
 How important is tax reform? Where does it rank on your priorities?
 The General Assembly (G.A.) should be thanked for creating TRAC
Is the G.A. just as committed to passing TRAC recommendations?
 Some say “this is too big to ever pass.” If so, why appoint a highly
qualified commission, have these experts spend 6 months of their
time & our tax dollars… & then not pass their recommendations?
 We realize that November 15th (preliminary TRAC report) is after
the state budget development. But isn’t Jan. 1, 2010 (right after big
elections) the perfect time for the G.A. to pass something bold?
 Even if the TRAC report isn’t perfect, can we still support it if it
gets us “10-20 yards further down the football field to our goal?”
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia
Who can I contact for more information?
Olde English Consortium


www.oldeenglishconsortium.org (Click on “Board of Directors” for handouts, revised regularly)
803-817-6637 or FanningOEC@comporium.net
Western Piedmont Consortium


www.sc-wpec.org (handouts revised regularly)
864-223-9127 or RWILSON@SC-WPEC.ORG
Please feel free to contact Dr. Mike Fanning (OEC) and/or Dr. Ray Wilson
(WPEC) if you would like further information or if you would like for
someone to come and speak re: Tax Reform with a group in your region.
Please use this information in any way you see fit. They are yours to copy, adapt, & use on your
own. Help us get the word out. We want our communities, legislators, and candidates to hear
from as many people as possible about this important issue: Comprehensive Tax Reform.
Olde English & Western Piedmont Consortia