Earlier this week, we did a story on another proposed fee increase on the people of South Carolina – this one part of a “Homeowners’ Association Reform Bill” that’s being pushed by State Senator Ray Cleary, one of the biggest RINOs in state government.
Sadly, this is just one of many fee increases likely to be proposed in the months ahead as the Republican-controlled S.C. General Assembly looks for ways to sustain the unsustainable growth of state government when federal “bureaucratic bailout” funds run out next year.
You can read our story on Cleary’s proposed fee increase by clicking here, but this issue is obviously much bigger than one article.
How big?
Well, the “other funds” section of the state budget – i.e. the part that’s paid for by various governmental fines and fees – currently represents $7.2 billion of our state’s $20.7 billion spending plan. That’s a huge chunk of change that lawmakers don’t even discuss during the “budget debate” over the general fund (which this year represented $5.7 billion of the state budget).
Here at FITS, we’re sick and tired of our state’s greedy lawmakers trying to shove these backdoor tax hikes down the throats of South Carolinians as a way to cover for their own inability to set spending priorities.
Seriously, it’s not our fault these corrupt mouth-breathers can’t control their spending appetites!
In fact, we believe that any lawmaker who approves a fee increase on the people of South Carolina (without simultaneously approving a dollar-for-dollar tax cut) is guilty of raising taxes.
Anyway, all of this is why FITS will be implementing a “Fee Watch” program moving forward that will expose these proposed fee and fine increases – and the state lawmakers who are supporting them.
God knows the government-loving mainstream media can’t be counted on for something like this, so it’s up to us … and in a larger sense, up to you.
After all, we can’t do this without help from our vast network of readers and sources.
Our plan is simple – every time we come across one of these fee or fine increases (implemented or proposed), we’ll bring you the full story behind it. You’ll know specifically how much money the government is taking, who they’re taking it from, what they’re claiming it’s going to be used for, who sponsored or supported (voted for) it and how it all adds up in the state budget.
Help us by joining the “FITS Fee Watch” team and reporting these backdoor tax hikes when you see them …
Seriously … help us help you …
If you know of any new government fee increase that’s being proposed (or has already been enacted), just email us and we’ll start investigating it immediately.
By James the Foot Soldier October 23, 2009 at 4:26 pm
The $10 fee is the tip of the iceberg – other parts of this bed-wetting liberal malarky would raise assessments by a much larger amount.
Let’s hope this debacle never sees the light of day – not to mention it usurps thousands of presently legal binding homeowner association covenants – that law-abiding folks are happy to comply with so their property values are protected.
Gee – I wonder if Senator Jackson got nasty letter/lawsuit slapped on him by a homeowner’s association for parking his Escalade in his front yard?
Come clean Jackson – you freakin’ pussy.