2/21/08
Clarendon County reacts to tax stimulus package
By Jerriod Grizzle

JERRIOD GRIZZLE/Manning Times

Julia Berry, a waitress at the Summerton Diner turns to smile in the middle of her shift Feb. 16. Berry said that her stimulus check is going to help her out a lot and though she doesn’t know exactly what she is going to do with it yet, she will figure it out by May.

From the Chat-N-Chew in Turbeville to the Chamber of Commerce in Manning to the Summerton Diner the words on everyone’s lips are stimulus payments.

Officials at the Internal Revenue Service recently announced that over 130 million Americans would get some kind of economic stimulus check in May to try to combat the downward spiraling U.S. economy.

The IRS will use information from 2007 tax returns filed by Americans to determine eligibility and calculate the amount of the stimulus payments. In most cases, single individuals will get $600 and married couples will receive $1,200.

Matthew Gardner, who works at East Clarendon Auto, said he is going to put his stimulus check to good use.

“I’ve put my time in. I’m going to pay some bills and then I’m going to spend the devil out of it,” he said jokingly.

Joyce White, a waitress at the Chat-N-Chew and avid fisherman, said she knows exactly what she is going to use her check on: a much needed vacation.

“I will go fishing and take a little vacation. When I go fishing I have to have a motel and everything,” she said. “The government didn’t give it to me to pay bills with and since we go fishing almost every weekend why not.”

Connie Matthews, a manager at the Summerton Diner said that she is also going to splurge, just after she pays bills.

“I have bills to pay and pay some other taxes but after that, I’m going to take a vacation,” she said.

Mark Hanson with the IRS media relations for North Carolina and South Carolina said that even those that are retired should get some money from the stimulus plan.

“If you have social security or military benefits, you should report these monies and you may be eligible,” he said. “We are going to make an effort to reach out to make sure if the elderly are not required to file but they are eligible, that they are informed to make sure they get money that they are entitled to.”

Van Green, a retiree from Turbeville’s Gulf Station said he doesn’t even know if he is eligible to get a check but he hopes he does.

“I’m going to pay bills and buy groceries. It is a good thing for every American. I’m worried about the economy these days. My wife and I are both on Social Security,” he said.

Green said he could remember back to the Great Depression when he and his family came up poor.

“You did what you had to,” he said.

Pete Pritchard, a retiree and a fishing guide said that he really has no choice about what he does with his money if he gets it.

“I’ve got all I need but I’ll put it on my bills. The rest I’m going to give to my wife and she is going to do what she wants to,” he said.

As an incentive, an extra $300 could be included as a child tax credit if a person has a child under 18.

Ericka Sexton, an information specialist with the Chamber of Commerce said her money is going mostly to her child.

“I’m going to put a small amount in stocks and then save for my child. I might do some shopping, to buy work clothes and then of course, toys,” she said.

While most people around the county are going to at least pay a bill or two it seems as if the stimulus package is a welcome relief to the county, something that residents are looking forward to, to do a little bit extra for themselves.