Property owners might see higher tax bills

Special purpose districts seeking increase in Charleston County Property owners across Charleston County might see their tax bills rise even though County Council isn't raising its rate. That's because six special purpose districts are seeking increases. County Council, which oversees the districts' finances, voted Tuesday to give initial approval to the increases, and it has scheduled a public hearing on them at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The proposed increases include a slight raise for Trident Technical College, which receives about $4.6 million from Charleston County property taxes to help maintain its campuses. It also receives money from Berkeley and Dorchester taxpayers. Other increases range from 2 percent for homeowners in the St. Paul's Fire District to more than 8 percent for homeowners on Johns Island served by the St. John's Fire District. Most of the increases would help improve service by adding new personnel. St. John's plans to add 12 new firefighters, while St. Paul's and James Island plan to hire three each. County Administrator Roland Windham said the extra firefighters will help the districts comply with a new federal safety rule that requires four firefighters on the scene and in protective gear before the first one enters a burning building. The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission also plans to hire three new employees, but its proposed tax increase for operations would be offset by a similar sized decrease to pay off bonds, so taxpayers would notice no net change. The net effect of these increases on taxpayers would be dwarfed by a planned increase for the Charleston County School District, which is looking at raising its tax rate by almost 40 percent to continue its building program, give mandated salary increases and pay for other new initiatives. However, the county plans to reassess property this year, further obscuring the net effect of the increases. Notices could be mailed out as early as next month. Two of the tax increases -- a 3 percent increase for the North Charleston District and a 4 percent increase for the Cooper River Park and Playground District -- stem from their loss of tax base because of annexations, Windham said. County Council began reviewing special purpose districts' budgets several years ago. Even though they are proposed by other elected and appointed governments, the county's staff questions any pay raises or big ticket items. "I think we scrutinize their budgets more than we have in the past," Windham said. "It's not that we just accept the budgets and pass them along." Windham said the county's review is seldom adversarial, and Council Chairman Leon Stavrinakis said council most always accepts the result. "We kind of defer to the judgment of people who are on those boards," he said. Councilman Tim Scott noted the county's $155 million proposed budget keeps the county's tax rate the same, marking the 10th straight year the county hasn't raised its rate. "I think that's something taxpayers will appreciate, especially in light of other taxing entities that may have a tax increase," he said. IF YOU GO Charleston County Council public hearings on special purpose districts' proposed tax increases at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday: Special Purpose District Current tax on a $200,000 home Proposed tax on same home: Trident Technical College $17 $21 St. Paul's Fire District $412 $421 St. John's Fire District $189 $205 James Island PSD $553 $583 North Charleston District $777 $798 Cooper River Park & Playground $114 $118 Source: Charleston County

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