Sunbelt States Finding Solutions for a Swarm of Tax Refugees

In December, the York County Council, which is led by Republicans, put a 16-month moratorium on commercial and residential rezoning requests and consideration of any new apartment complexes or subdivisions. It is the most comprehensive ban so far in a state where fast-growing cities are temporarily blocking everything from dollar stores to student housing, the Municipal Association of South Carolina said.

“People say, ‘You’re a business owner. Why do you want to stop growth?’” said York County Councilmember Allison Love, a Republican who owns a jewelry store. “But we’ve passed the point of diminishing returns.”

Ms. Love collected thousands of signatures in support of a slowdown, some at community meetings she hosted during rush hour, thinking constituents would attend rather than be stuck in traffic.

The growth of towns in the small-government states of America is a mirror of the decline in the cities and towns of the heavy-tax-burden states where money isn’t respected.

Many of the high tax states just cost too much to retire in, with high cost of living, and high taxes.

If you are living in a high tax state and preparing for retirement, it pays to be flexible. Moving to a low cost, low tax state could save you a lot of money, and improve your standard of living.

Read more about finding the right place to retire in my new series Looking for a Better America.