South Carolina Reform
ReformSC exists to draw attention to things that can and should change in our state - from an 1895 Constitution and a government structure that lacks accountability, to a pattern of unsustainable government growth that threatens our competitiveness today and our kids' financial situation tomorrow.
Legislators in Columbia recently finalized a $7 billion state budget for the coming year - funding some essential things like patrolmen and road construction, and some not so essential things, like an unaccountable "slush fund" that sends your hard earned tax dollars to legislators' pet projects across the state.
These poor choices by budget-writers have in effect forced both the Department of Education and the Department of Corrections to run deficits this year, even though overall spending has still increased more than 35% over the last four years. In addition to the spending issue, the question of restructuring remains unresolved - meaning our state falls further and further behind in an increasingly competitive world. A historic bill that would have increased efficiency and accountability by creating a Department of Administration was held up during the last days of session by Senators ostensibly beholden to the status quo.
Things can change, but we need your help.
A New Tax System for SC
"It has been obvious for several years that South Carolina needs to design a new tax system, but the state's current budget crunch makes that truth even more evident."
The Spartanburg Herald Journal
Governor Mark Sanford recently proposed a common sense approach to improving South Carolina's backwards tax system - with the main goals of creating jobs, attracting capital investment, and leveling out the playing field. The Governor's plan includes:
- Offering an optional flat tax that would essentially cut an individual's income tax in half, from the current 7% down to 3.65%.
- Phasing out completely the state's corporate tax over the next decade to attract capital investment.
- Setting up a committee to study and fix how the current tax system hurts the state's businesses.
This plan just makes sense, and it will go a long way in making our state more competitive in an increasingly challenging international marketplace. For more information, you can click on The Post and Courier, The State, The Greenville News, the Governor's press release – or read what some national groups like The Tax Foundation had to say about it.
When the 2009 session rolls around, it'd be worth calling your legislators up in Columbia and asking them to support real tax reform like this!
Join us in this vital effort... because yours is the voice that matters!