Laurens County Council has taken the first step in attracting a $55M investment; however, the main topic of discussion at the Nov. 11 regular monthly meeting was taxes.
Specifically, why are property tax bills so much higher this year, when governments including the County Council are saying they have passed budgets which they expect to result in no tax increase?
The tax discussion was not an agenda item. It came up under “Reports to Council” led by Chairman Brown Patterson. He invited anyone in the audience needing to have their tax bill calculated to see him after the meeting. He said not everything on the tax bill generated by the County is a county expense.
Meanwhile, the first of three readings was provided to Project Ponderosa, a proposed $55 Million investment by Duke Energy in a solar farm at 330 Holly Grove Church Rd., Laurens. Laurens County Development Corporation Director Jon Coleman identified the company even though its name is not listed yet on documents. Normally, economic development projects are code-named, because of competitive reasons, until third and final reading.
A County advertisement says a public hearing will be conducted on Project Ponderosa at the Dec. 9 meeting.
A $2.5 Million investment is required within the first 5 years and the company’s fee is locked in at a 6% assessment rate for 30 years, according to a document.
The project will not produce any jobs, after initial installation.
Coleman said it will generate for Laurens County a fee of $150,000/year for the 1st 10 years, $237,000/ year for the 2nd 10 years, and $325,000/year for the 3rd 10 years. It will be considered in the Octagon Industrial Park, which is not a physical place but rather a collection of industrial sites, designated for incentive purposes.
Coleman said it is similar to a project done by Duke a year ago in Laurens County.
The Council also, on a 3-2 vote on 2nd reading, approved a fireworks-specific ordinance for the county; adopted a payrolls and holidays schedule; and formed by resolution a Citizens Task Force to study and make recommendations about land use (a provision agreed to in a lawsuit settlement). Council members also commented on the November 11 Veterans Day program at the new county monument on the Laurens Public Library grounds and wished everyone a safe and celebratory Thanksgiving.
Patterson invited County Auditor Jim Coleman to weigh in on the explanation of tax bills. Since it was a free-flowing discussion, no one from the public identified themselves, but their complaints ranged from higher tax bills, as much as 400%, and county offices not providing correct information to estimate what the tax bills will be. Coleman invited anyone concerned about tax billing to see him at his Hillcrest Square office, but he added, “Don’t all of y’all come tomorrow.”
Coleman said tax bills in 2024 are higher than in 2023 because last year the County returned to the taxpayers a surplus that had “built up” in the Lost Option Sales Tax money remitted to the state and sent back to the county for property tax relief. County government can keep a portion, but the council at least in the last 3 years has decided it didn’t need to do that, in order to balance its budgets. Making improvements to property and bond issues also can result in higher tax bills, he said.
