After hearing from a concerned taxpayer Monday, Orangeburg County Council said that reassessment’s impact won’t be known until the millage rate is set in about two more weeks.
“There’s no reason to have a public hearing until we determine millage,” said Council Chairman Harry Wimberly. “We propose to set millage at the next meeting, if the numbers come in from the auditor and treasurer. ... This will give people time to understand what their tax bill means and the reassessment process.”
Abe Salama asked that council postpone the reassessment process, which is mandated by the state to be held every five years. Reassessment notices were sent out earlier this month.
“I ask you to (cancel) reassessment because the time is not right. We are in a bad economic situation,” said Salama, who provided council with printout of articles concerning the economy.
“We are hurting. Postpone reassessment for at least one year. ... Delay it one or two years until Washington figures out how to solve the economic problem.”
Salama, who spoke during the public comments portion of the session, said the public doesn’t understand how reassessment will affect their taxes.
“There’s no net new money for Orangeburg County,” said Wimberly, who also noted that state legislators are planning more cuts that the county will have to absorb.
Also, Councilman Clyde Livingston said that, “state law is we cannot get a windfall.”
Councilman Willie B. Owens said that council members get letters from taxpayers, too.
“We feel your pain,” he said. “Rest assured, Orangeburg County Council will do its best to make sure you don’t pay any extra burden for taxes.”
After the meeting, County Administrator Bill Clark said, “The revenue to the county stays the same. Reassessment is not government greed. (Salama) doesn’t understand that, because there’s an increase in total assessed value, (it doesn’t mean) that all taxes go up and the county hoards money. State law requires a rollback to maintain equilibrium.”
In other business, council:
* Received a presentation from a representative of Correctional Risk Services, a Tennessee firm that wants to find ways to save the county money on inmate health care costs. The firm, which is endorsed by the National Association of Counties, would receive a fee based on the percentage of savings.
“We don’t get paid anything if there are no savings,” said D.J. Kreal.
Owens, a former Regional Medical Center board member, said he’d like for council to take the information and go over it with the hospital.
According to Clark, the county has budgeted $700,000 for inmate care. During the first quarter, he said, inmate expenses have already been incurred beyond that rate. The main problem, he said, comes from physicians’ visits and facilities outside the county, not the RMC.
“It would bring stability to the budget process that has volatility now,” he said.
* Held a public hearing on inducement agreements for the new $3.1 million Monteferro company, which began operations in the joint Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park a few months ago. No one spoke during the hearing.
The standard fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement calls for an assessment ratio of 6 percent instead of the 10.5 percent industrial assessment ratio. The agreement also calls for a 10 percent special source revenue credit for five years.
* After a public hearing, gave second reading to an ordinance placing Monteferro in the joint Dorchester-Orangeburg Multicounty Industrial Park. Under the state economic development incentive, Dorchester County will get 1 percent of fees generated by the investments, while Orangeburg County will get 99 percent. No one spoke during the hearing.
* Authorized that a written policy be in place by Nov. 1 to comply with recently enacted “Red Flag” legislation. The new state law requires that safeguards be in place to protect private information included in the South Carolina Association of Counties set-off debt collection program.
* Referred to the Public Works Committee a request to abandon maintenance on a portion of Fieldcrest Street.
* In closed, executive session, discussed an unspecified economic development issue.
T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 803-533-5545.