(AP) -- House Republicans are expected to advance several tax cutting bills that Democrats contend will blow holes in local governments' budgets and raise taxes on poorer residents.
The Ways and Means Committee is set Tuesday to debate measures that would cut South Carolina's tax rate on manufacturing and commercial property and collapse six personal income tax brackets into two.
State budget advisers expect the two property tax bills to reduce revenue to cities, counties and school districts by more than $1 billion when both take full effect. Property taxes pay for local services. The measures would not send local governments any money to offset the loss.
The bill streamlining personal income taxes would reduce taxes for some people by $84 annually, while those who pay nothing could see an $84 increase.
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