Under the heading Annual Property Taxes in Selected SC Cities (2004) , Carolina Living notes an almost two–to–one ratio between the property taxes for a $200,000 home in Columbia compared to the same property in Charleston. In Columbia, a $200,000 home was taxed last year for $3,358, while in Charleston the same house paid $1,619 in property taxes.

The Greenville taxes for the same $200,000 home were $2,399, almost $1,000 less than Columbia’s. Charlotte taxes, by the way, were also $1,000 less than Columbia’s.

Charleston taxes are half what we pay in Columbia. Why? How?

Columbia gets maybe 500,000 visitors a year, while Charleston attracts over 5,000,000, and that means ten times the take in sales taxes and hospitality taxes. The portion of the visitors’ taxes dedicated to property tax reduction helps the local property owners.

The overall cost–of– living for Charleston is a bit more than Columbia’s. But the value of a house in Charleston is far higher than its Columbia counterpart. Charleston can afford a lower millage because the appraised values are so much higher.

Greenville is one–third less the property tax we pay in Columbia. Since Greenville is not a tourist town, it’s a good guess the consolidated single school district in Greenville has something to do with it.

Compare Columbia growth rates with those of Charleston, Greenville, and Charlotte. Regardless of the explanations, high home property taxes act as a high barrier to prospective newcomers.

A better explanation of why Columbia is taxed twice what Charleston pays and 50% more than Greenville and Charlotte has to be made at Columbia City Council, Richland County Council, and Richland School District One. If they can’t explain the tax differences, maybe a new generation of elected officials can.