Staff Writer
EASLEY - Saco Lowell shopping center plans took a
devastating blow Monday night when school board trustees
voted down the city's request for a special tax district.
Trustees and County Council were asked for their support in
creating a Tax Increment Financing district around the proposed
Easley Town Center location.
County and school district tax revenues would be frozen at
the current rate while property taxes collected would continue
to increase.
Those increases above the frozen rate would be deposited
into a special account and could only be used for public
infrastructure and improvements within the tax district.
Both the school district and county would still receive tax
revenues at the frozen rate for the duration of the TIF, about 20
years.
Despite opposing Easley's requests, trustees emphasized
their support for the Easley Town Center project itself.
"I'm a supporter of economic growth in this county," Trustee
Jim Shelton said. "I think we all are."
Trustees have to be mindful of what the future holds in
terms of generation of revenue, Shelton said.
"One thing we have to consider is what the effect Act 388 is
going to have on the district's ability to collect operating funds,"
Shelton said.
Act 388 removed the occupation tax from owner-occupied
homes and replaced it with a one-cent statewide sales tax.
"Right now it's uncertain what effect Act 388 will have,"
Shelton said. "Removing a large parcel such as the Saco Lowell
property may have a detrimental effect on the ability of the
school district to collect those needed funds.
"Anyone who has the venture capital to risk is free to do so,"
he continued. "But it is our obligation to look out for those who
can pay for our schools and those who can't so we can provide
those educational opportunities."
Shelton believes that a TIF district is "for the revitalization of
blighted or derelict or unmarketable property."
"It is my opinion that the Saco Lowell (project) does not meet
the spirit of TIF," Shelton said. "I move that the school district
object to participating in the TIF district, in which case no tax
revenue generated by school district millage be used for TIF."
Trustee Alex Saitta agreed.
"The board just raised school taxes on existing businesses by
$550 million," he said. "It would be unfair of the school board
now to give business a free pass. All businesses need to pay their
fair share of school district taxes."
City Administrator Fox Simons said he was disappointed by
the board's decision.
"It would have helped," Simons said. "It makes it more of a
challenge.
Easley officials can move ahead with the creation of a TIF
district but wanted the board's approval.
"We have to step back now and digest the impact of this
decision and see how we proceed," Simons said.
County Council members have not officially responded to
the city's request, voting last week to send the issue to
committee and discuss it again at a later meeting.
Simons wasn't sure how the school board's decision would
affect further discussion at the county level.
"I gave up trying to predict what government bodies are
going to do a long time ago," Simons said.
Reach Jason Evans at jevans@theeasleyprogress.com or 855-
0355.
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