change in property taxes (Aiken: sales, insurance, home)

[barbarabak]

My husband and I are considering relocation to S. Carolina, N. Carolina or Tenn. We have a friend who recently bought a home in a small town near Aiken, she tells me the property tax law changed in 2006, claims homeowners no longer have to pay school taxes, anyone know about this, don't know if she means the whole state, county or the town she bought in. We curently live in Florida, moved here from Mass and in both states school taxes account for more than 1/2 of our total property tax bill, if its true, well it might help with our decision. Its not that we are trying to get out of paying our share, we've never been blessed with children & at 61 & 70 doesn't appear about to change. Thanks

[Racelady88]

I paid property taxes in Aiken last year to the tune of $316 for a 4/2 on 1/2 acre. Taxes will be low there compared to FL or Mass even without the school tax. Homeowner's was $420 and auto insurance was $480 (for 2 cars and a cargo trailer).

[Charles94]

Your friend is partially correct. The law reduced property taxes on all primary residences in the state over $100k. A $300k home property taxes were reduced from $3k to $2k. A $100k home basically remained the same.

At the same time, state income tax was raised 2% while sales tax on non prepared food was reduced to 1%. The sales tax increase funds the schools at the local level.