South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed a proposal that would have given tax breaks for installing fire sprinklers — a measure approved after a Charleston furniture store blaze that killed nine firefighters in 2007.
The Republican governor said in a veto message June 11 the incentives amounted to a 50 percent taxpayer subsidy. He argues that subsidies like that undermine market competition.
Supporters say sprinklers substantially cut fire deaths and property damage.
The legislation left it up to local governments to decide if they would offer property tax breaks of up to 25 percent of a sprinkler system’s cost where they aren’t required by law or code. The break would be matched with a state income tax credit.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
New Data Centers Projected to Emit More Carbon Than All of Mexico 
Japan’s Cyberattack Surge Tests Its Push to Strengthen Defenses 
Father and Son Charged With Running ‘Chop-Shop,’ Selling Stolen Cars, Insurance Fraud 
Florida Agency Owner and Unlicensed Agent Charged in Fake Certificates Scheme 
