Cherokee County bill tied a property tax break to sales tax

Cherokee County would grant a property tax exemption for eligible homesteads. It would cover residents of the district, which is Cherokee County, who qualify for a homestead exemption on property there. The exemption amount would be based each year on net proceeds from the local sales tax; any value above the exempt amount would remain taxable. It would apply only to Cherokee County taxes on property within the district and would be added to other homestead exemptions. The bill would need a two-thirds vote in both chambers and approval by more than half of voters voting in the county referendum. If approved by voters, the exemption would apply to tax years beginning January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2039.

The county would impose a 1 percent local sales and use tax. The tax would apply within the special district that covers Cherokee County. The tax would require a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers and approval by more than half of voters voting in the county referendum. The tax would run from January 1, 2028, through December 31, 2037.