COLUMBIA, S.C. — Dee Martin may wake up on Jan. 1 and find herself in a whole different state.
South Carolina and North Carolina have redrawn the border between the two states with GPS technology that allows them to confirm the boundary lines established under an English king in the 18th century down to the centimeter. That means the lines drawn decades ago through less exact surveying measures are several hundred feet off.
So Martin, who has a South Carolina address and phone number, really lives in North Carolina. She isn't looking forward to the hassle of changing the deed to her home and her address at the post office. There is likely a property tax increase too.
But the biggest problem may come through the homebound health care she gets for her 89-year-old husband. The provider doesn't serve North Carolina and that state's Medicaid may not pay for the service even if they change doctors and nurses.
"We knew it would be cheaper to live in South Carolina. Financially, it is going to be a strain — our only income is Social Security, and we already have to use our meager savings to meet regular expenses," Martin said. "Right now we don't know what is going to last longer — us or our money."
Nineteen homes are changing states. Three in North Carolina will end up in South Carolina, while Martin and 15 others are going to change residency to North Carolina.
Bills finalizing the boundary change are in the North Carolina and South Carolina legislatures. North Carolina's Senate has passed its bill, sending it to the House. South Carolina's Senate also took action, although with three days left in South Carolina's annual session, it isn't clear whether the bill has time to pass in that state's House.
If North Carolina passes its bill, South Carolina lawmakers said there is little they can do except pass their own proposal or leave the people leaving South Carolina in the lurch.