[PUP] South Carolina Taxes on Boats

[Milt Baker]

Cruising Guide author Claiborne Young recently sent this to his list:

Beaufort County, SC Passes Important Tax Break For Boat Owners 
 
Many cruisers already know that in 2007, the state of South Carolina reduced 
the grace period that a boat could be located in the state's waters before it 
became subject to property taxes, from 180 days to 30 consecutive days, and 60 
annual aggregate days. This new statute has been a real problem for Palmetto 
State Marinas.
 
Despite a determined effort by the SC Marine Association, the state legislature 
refused to reverse its action earlier this year. They did, however, grant 
individual counties the option of returning to the 180 day period.
 
This past week, we posted a message on the Cruisers' Net's "South Carolina" 
section, from Captain Suzi Durant, Executive Director of the SC Marine Association  
which reports that Beaufort County (Beaufort and Hilton Head Island) has indeed 
returned to a 180 day grace period.
 
That is GREAT news for Beaufort County marinas, particularly Salty Southeast 
Cruisers' Net sponsors, Downtown Beaufort Marina, Skull Creek Marina and Harbourtown 
Marina.
 
To check out the full story, go to our geographic, sub-category "ICW - Beaufort River 
to Calibogue Sound and Hilton Head Island (Statute Mile 537 to 565)" page, at:
 
http://www.cruisersnet.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=178&Itemid=423