JAILHOUSE ROCK Manning, Crestwood fight to find their place in Region VI race B1
Man accused of stealing school karaoke machine. A2
VOL. 119, NO. 9 WWW.THEITEM.COM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894
Mixed results Survey shows Tuomey perfect in some categories, far below average in others BY JADE ANDERSON AND BRADEN BUNCH janderson@theitem.com, BBunch@theitem.com Officials with Tuomey Healthcare System say an inhouse review of the data that led to its two-letter-grade drop in the hospital’s recent Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Scores could take several days. However, an analysis of the various categories mak-
tients developing up the hospiSEE FOR YOURSELF ing Stage 3 or 4 tal’s letter grade pressure ulcers shows Tuomey How have local hospitals’ scores fared compared with others? Turn — typically rerecorded belowto page A6 for a breakdown of ferred to as seaverage results in the Leapfrog Group Hospital vere bed sores — 10 of the 28 facSafety Score results. at more than tors considered three times the by the survey, national average, surgical with these below-average patients dying at a slightly performances occurring in higher-than-normal rate both patient outcomes and from serious but treatable hospital protocols. complications and a higher These poor scores included issues such as Tuomey paSEE SCORES, PAGE A6
BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com
has the largest database of adoptable animals on the Internet and has been involved in animal welfare and rescue organizations since its founding in 1996. Petfinder.com is affiliated
Lath Harris doesn’t think local homeowners are dodging property taxes intentionally. But the Sumter County assessor is announcing a crackdown on residents claiming a special tax deduction for which they don’t qualify. Harris told a committee of Sumter County Council his office will soon begin applying a tax penalty to anyone claiming a 4-percent assessment on a home that is not the primary residence. The penalty will be applied beginning Jan. 1, 2014. “We have a moratorium right now, while we notify everybody,” Harris told a meeting of council’s fiscal, tax and property committee Tuesday. “Then if we find out after Jan. 1, there will be a penalty.” Under state law, a structure can only be assessed at a 4-percent property tax ratio if the owner is currently living in it. If the owner moves out and the property becomes unoccupied, a rental property or a part-time home, it’s assessed at 6 percent. But without specifying a number, Sumter’s assessor said “a lot” of residents currently claiming a 4-percent assessment don’t qualify for it, whether knowingly or not. And those false tax claims are costing local government money. Every year, Harris estimates the property tax generates $1.4 million in revenue in Sumter County, with the bulk of that going to Sumter School District and between $300,000 and $400,000 going to city and county government. Homes on a 4-percent ratio do not pay into the school operating budget, although homes at 6 percent do. If the assessor’s office finds a home isn’t owner-occupied after Jan. 1, the lower tax will be kept as a penalty, and then the owner will be assessed up to two years of back taxes at the 6-percent ratio. For the next two months, taxpayers can self-report and avoid paying the penalty. Harris plans to alert local Realtors and attorneys of the impending crackdown so they make sure to inform their clients that the assessor needs to be notified if they change residences. “They’re not doing it intentionally,” Harris said. “A lot of military folks have to move and they put their house up for rent,
SEE PETS, PAGE A8
SEE CLAIMS, PAGE A8
MATT WALSH / THE ITEM
Animal control teams up with adoption site More rescued animals are finding homes in Sumter County as a result of social media efforts by Sumter Animal Control. Among its efforts, the
animal control office now has a page on Facebook and has joined Petfinder. com, a nationwide website that promotes responsible pet adoptions. “We have adopted out more animals since we started this than we have in
the past 10 years,” said Sumter County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner. “It has been a blessing.” “We don’t like having to put down animals,” he said. According to a press release from Petfinder.com, it
DEATHS
20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)
www.theitem.com
Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1236 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News, Sports: 774-1226
Robert J. Blair Shaquille O. McElveen Owen W. Adams Hazel Prince
Crackdown will target false home tax claims Assessor says ‘a lot’ of residents don’t qualify for special deduction
Tuomey Regional Medical Center is seen Wednesday in Sumter. The hospital was given a grade of C for the Fall 2013 quarter as its Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Score.
BY JIM HILLEY Special to The Item
60 CENTS
OUTSIDE A LITTLE COOLER
Frances M. Hudson Curtis Brooks Eartha L. Mathis B6
INSIDE 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES
Cool in the morning; mainly clear tonight HIGH: 65 LOW: 42 A8
Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television
B8 B7 A8 A7 A5