Local Radar

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"No property taxes" for Edgefield Town residents approved Monday night

web posted October 3, 2006

EDGEFIELD – Edgefield Mayor Ken Durham told the Edgefield Town Council Monday night, “I told ya’ll last meeting that I felt a pulse in town, and I’m ready to supercharge that pulse right this second.”  The Mayor said the Town of Edgefield could do away with all property taxes including vehicle taxes levied by the town. The basis of the plan is due to the increase in Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) dollars and an increase in population figures, where the town will receive more in SPLOST Funds than it needs to operate under the current budget.

After announcing the plan and some comments from council members such as, “are you up for re-election?” The measure passed with a unanimous vote. A second reading will be held in 15 days to make it official in order to provide the county with a zero tax rate to be included on the bills.

Mayor Durham explained prior to his official announcement that Town Clerk Charlotte Cheatham and Town Administrator Olin Gambrel have been working the numbers on the plan for some time. An important part of the plan is the fact Richland County has recently joined into the SPLOST program accounting for the increase in funds.

The population increase came in a rather dubious manner as the federal prison population grew from 1700 to 2300 inmates creating more residents, since prisoners are counted as being a resident of the town or county they are jailed. That, coupled with the addition of Richland County into counties participating in the program nets the town with a positive cash flow, of sorts.

“SPLOST funds can only be used to offset property taxes, Mayor Durham said. Last year the Town of Edgefield took in $203,000 in property taxes, but received $341,000 in SPLOST funds. The overage has to be banked to be used against future tax relief. With the estimated increases in funds the town no longer needs to lay the property tax at the feet of residents and business owners.

Councilman Lloyd asked if there were no taxes, what could the town offer as an incentive to businesses looking to relocate in the way of tax credits. “There is no tax,” Mayor Durham said, “I can’t think of a better incentive than that.”

Mayor Durham said Howard Duvall, Executive Director of the Municipal Association of Counties, agreed that the plan made fiscal sense and was indeed viable. Mayor Durham said he and the staff have been working and reworking the plan, even playing “devil’s advocate” against the plan and could find no reason not to go forward.

In the end, the council agreed.

One thing the Mayor did point out was that with the tax savings and the focus on the be local, buy local media blitz being designed by business owners and citizens he he hoped it would spur local people to spend their money with local businesses.


 

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