WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | (2-18-2004) What do you think of the plan to cut taxes from 7% to 4.75% over the next 10 years?
(2-18-2004) What do you think of the plan to cut taxes from 7% to 4.75% over the next 10 years?
JC, west cola: Hey we can cut taxes if we can keep all the JOBS IN the USA. All take notice of all the plants that are taking jobs out of the USA. Lets starts a boycott on these products. The first should be BOSE.
JM, Blythewood: What does he mean cut taxes.He is already raising property tax on homes and cars not to mention the prepared food tax.Pretty soon we will be taxed on our satelite dishes.
DR, columbia: Lower taxes over a ten year period? Please, why do elected officials continue to pass along ideas that they know full well won't be in effect once they leave office? More times then not the next person in office will repeal whatever his or her predecessor did. Why does it take ten years to lower taxes anyhow? I don't see the state needing ten years to raise them?
jg, columbia: The tax cut proposal can be summed up in two words: VOODOO ECONOMICS! If the state budget is $350 million short now, what effect does Gov. Sanford think a tax cut is going to have? This idea might make sense if the the Gov. and GOP legislators would also consider sensible ways to raise revenue, such as eliminating many of our too-generous sales tax exemptions. Instead, they insist on eliminating revenue while offering pie-in-the-sky promises of "stimulating the economy" - during an election year, of course. The Governor's plan is worst than fantasy - it is dangerous.
PR, Columbia: I think it's a dumb idea to cut state income taxes when we have a serious budget problem. And we don't have the option of running a deficit under our state constitution. It will only put more pressure on local government and schools as state revenues are reduced. Tuitions are already beginning to increase at state colleges. You can't get something for nothing.
JE, Columbia: I want all levels of government to be run for first effectiveness, then efficiency. The essential services in many areas of state gov. have already been cut to the bone... Are they essential services ? If so, how are we going to pay for them ?? Revenue cuts do not make sense now !!
BK, Sumter: I'm all for reducing the State Sales Tax, but I don't trust anything Mark Sanford does or says. To me he is another George Bush,and I don;t trust anything he says or does. When either Sanford or Bush is on tv talking, I either turn the channel or mute it.
HT, Columbia: SC income taxes should not be decreased for those with higher incomes. Instead, they should be increased to include an 8%, 9%, and probably 10% category. People over 65, of which I am one, get too much of a tax break for no reason except age. If there is any decrease in tax rates, the benefits of such a decrease should go to people with lower incomes, regardless of age or disability.
MP, Rock Hill: Cutting state income tax as proposed will save a person making $100,000.00 per year approximately $150 a month and will save a person making $50,000 a year about $75 a month. These cuts will have no impact on the decision of businesses or people to locate in this state, but will further degrade the ability of our state to provide meaningful services to its citizens. Last year our state government solved part of its funding problems by taking benefits from our most vunerable citizens, seniors in need of long term care, the disabled, and those with mental health problems; and by underfunding higher education. This year the plan appears to be more of the same. These cuts directly impact working middle class families in this state. Children must make up from their resources the services lost by thier parents, and parents must pay the ever escalating cost of a college education for their children. This makes for a poorer not richer middle class as the benefits lost far outstrip the taxes saved. Perhaps one day we will have state officials who are willing to take the time to understand and value people who have worked hard all their life and now need assistance in what should be their golden years, and parents who are willing to sacrifice their life style, health care, and retirement in order to educate their children.
JP, Sumter: To put it very simply, it aint gonna happen. I would love to invest the change in my pockets and have $5,000,000.00 in ten years too, but it just aint gonna happen. The only way we can reduce taxes is by eliminating all forms of welfare.
EH, Columbia: Hello, we went through this in the eighties with President Reagan and it did not work; the country ran huge budget deficits. Sure few pocketed more money but did not place it in the economy. Supply side economics (trickle down money) works in theory, but not in practice. Besides if you cut taxes at the state level the will rise at the county and city level. You can not get something for nothing. Roads, schools, prisons, and other services cost money. I apperciate the idea, but until there are another sources secured for the missing funds like taxing the **** out of tourist like Florida does, this will not work. May be we should take a cue from Florida and tax the tourist but the Tourist lobby has already paid off the "Right" people in the General Assembly. However remember people that Florida does not have personal income taxes because they tax us(the tourist)when we go to visit.
LR, Chapin: I think that would be wonderful if they would cut the taxes. Middle income households cannot afford them. They are the ones that are really hurt by the high taxes. LOWER THE TAXES!!!!
DT, West Columbia: It sounds good at first blush, but when you realize it won’t be fully enacted for ten years - and that reductions won’t happen at all in years where state revenues don’t increase - then you come to understand that there’s less to this proposal than meets the eye. It’s just an election year ploy.
JP, Columbia: I would rather they cut Richland County taxes and user fees than state income taxes. Every utility bill, everything you own is taxed, retaxed and taxed again by the county and the residents get absolutely nothing for their money. Police protection is a joke, dogs and cats run wild in the neighborhood, we get one garbage pickup a month and the children would probably learn more if they stayed home and watched TV. Please Mr Governor, get the county paracites off our backs.
MS, Columbia: Smoke and mirrows, bait and switch. How can anyone with any common sense believe that the state will be able to reduce taxes over the next ten years from 7% to 4.75% without increasing taxes somewhere else. All this sounds good during extreme deficit years, but in reality, this will cause problems in the future. Once the economy gets back into full swing, then the state will have problems funding existing programs back to the way they were a few years ago and the state won't be able to fund any new programs. I'm real concerned with Gov. Sanford. He's beginning to sound more and more like a one-termer....
CY, Irmo: While I welcome the chance to cut State taxes I am concerned where the money to do this is coming from. So far I have not heard one person indicate a hard and fast plan to bring additional revenue into the state. We also need to see a State plan put into place that will penalize companies that receive tax breaks and then, after 5-10 years close and move out of the country. I am not a video poker player but I saw the effects when we took away video poker without having a plan to replace the revenue. Fla. draws a lot of retirees with their no State Income Tax.
