Reform plan cuts taxes, provides $340M more for schools

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A state lawmaker says her plan to revamp South Carolina education funding cuts taxes while also providing more money for poor, rural school districts.

Rep. Jenny Horne said Wednesday her proposal simplifies the state’s outdated, piecemeal funding system and provides $340 million more for public education.

The Summerville Republican’s plan creates a statewide property tax with a uniform millage. That would roll back local property taxes on businesses and vehicles allowing rural districts with little tax base to benefit from industry elsewhere.

The plan calls for removing sales tax exemptions so three districts that would lose money would not do so.

Similar plans have gone nowhere before.

Horne reintroduced it last month to answer last fall’s state Supreme Court ruling that lawmakers must fix the state’s broken education system.