Tax bite now less painful

County property owners will notice a big change when they get their tax bills.

Gone are the school operating taxes that made up two-thirds of previous tax bills. State lawmakers replaced it with a 1-cent sales tax increase in a property tax reform bill passed last year.

The property tax on a $136,000 home in the Cherokee Creek area is $1,540 on a tax notice mailed out last Thursday by the Cherokee County Treasurer's Office. A school tax credit will result in a savings of $867.10 in this example, meaning the property owner will pay only $672.96.

The tax savings could have been even larger if the school district had not increased school bond taxes to pay for new school construction. The county treasurer's office raised the district's debt service millage from 12 mills to 26 mills to help pay for a $35 million building program approved by school trustees last fall.

This change will result in taxpayers paying $70 more in taxes for school bonds.

The additional money will be used to make bond payments on the Gaffney High football stadium, Blacksburg and Gaffney High ninth grade additions, a Limestone Learning Center and a 6-classroom addition at Goucher Elementary currently under construction. All projects are expected to be completed next summer.

The treasurer's office mailed out 32,652 tax notices to residents Oct. 4.

County residents will soon be able to pay their tax bills online by logging onto the new treasurer's office Web site that will be announced in a few weeks.

"We are still in the testing phase. We hope to have it operational in the next couple of weeks so people can pay their taxes online," county treasurer Jackie Williams said. "County residents will eventually be able to pay their car taxes online as well."

Senior citizens who receive the homestead exemption may notice a difference on this year's tax bills with the school property tax relief. Residents older than 65 receive an exemption on their first $50,000 in property taxes.

"These residents will still see a discount," Williams said. "The school tax credit will just come off their tax bills first before the homestead exemption is applied."

County taxes are due by Jan. 15.

A 3 percent late fee on county taxes will be assessed after Jan. 15. Late charges increase to 10 percent on Feb. 1. Taxes are delinquent if not paid by March 15.

FOR EXAMPLE:

The property tax on a $136,000 home in the Cherokee Creek area is $1,540 on a tax notice mailed out last Thursday by the Cherokee County Treasurer's Office. A school tax credit will result in a savings of $867.10 in this example, meaning the property owner will pay only $672.96.