Calling for a "clarification," an Orangeburg County councilman challenged property tax projections previously provided by another councilman.

Councilman Clyde Livingston said the $9.60 "quoted last week," as the amount county taxes would increase for the owner of a $100,000 home that increased in value the full 15 percent capped by state law, is incorrect.

Councilman Willie B. Owens provided the $9.60 figure during a special called meeting council held to set the tax millage rate.

During that session, Council Chairman Harry Wimberly asked what the tax increase would be for the owner of a $100,000 house, if that property goes up in assessed value the full 15 percent allowed. He was told by Owens that the increase in taxes, with the rollback for reassessment, would be an extra $9.60.

Responding to Livingston at a Monday session, Owens said the $9.60 figure referred to the increase, if the value of the $100,000 house stayed the same.

"But that wasn't what the chairman's question was," Livingston said. "I have had a few people ask me about that."

Owens conceded his figures were incorrect.

After the session, Livingston, a certified public accountant, said the $9.60 figure is still wrong.

"If the $100,000 house stays at $100,000, it would be a $3.60 reduction," he said.

As to Wimberly's original question, what would the tax increase be if reassessment on the $100,000 house is up 15 percent, Livingston said the "tax increase, on the county portion only, is slightly more than $61."

Livingston said he's just "tired of people p - - - - - - on my shoes and calling it rain."

In other business, council accepted the $470,149 below-budgeted-proposal for construction of a new animal control shelter on Ellis Avenue. M.A.R. Construction, a Lexington County firm, not only provided the best proposal, but it also submitted the design rated most favorable by the design committee, County Administrator Bill Clark said.

Councilman Johnny Ravenell questioned the $218,000 difference between the high and low proposals and asked if there could be a potential problem with change orders that would drive up the cost.

"We gave flexibility in design and materials to be utilized. Otherwise, it's one company going after the bid aggressively," Clark said. "We will monitor it carefully."

Public Works Deputy Administrator Earl Whalen said the new facility will include 30 dog runs in addition to the 20 runs at the Ruf Road shelter the county shares with the local Maude Schiffley Chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"The greatest part of the whole deal is the partnership with the SPCA," he said.

After the session, Clark said the county and the SPCA have been jointly operating the Ruf Road facility. With a new building strictly for animal control, he said, the SPCA will be able to use the entire Ruf Road site to enhance adoption efforts.

In other business, council:

* After a public hearing, gave second-reading approval to a resolution providing for one or more fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements and an infrastructure or special source revenue credit with Zeus Industrial Products Inc.

According to Clark, with plans for a $9 million investment, Zeus is well above the $2.5 million threshold that allows an industry to receive a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement.

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.

No one spoke at the hearing.

* After a public hearing, gave second reading to an ordinance to place the Zeus project into the joint industrial and business park between Orangeburg and Calhoun counties.

Under the state economic development incentive, Calhoun County will get job credits as well as 1 percent of fees generated by the investments. Orangeburg County will get 99 percent of the fees.

The only person who spoke during the hearing was Jeanette Jeffrey, who asked questions about the county's role in the agreement.

* Accepted a $678,279.47 proposal from Kelley Communications of Orangeburg to provide new radios for the fire departments as well as other emergency communications equipment enhancements. The quote is consistent with the state contract. Also of note, a $690,000, no-match-required grant, written by Emergency Services Director John Smith, will provide the funding.

* Agreed to an intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Rowesville to employ Magistrate Don West as the municipal court judge.

* Approved the 2009 holiday schedule. County employees will receive 15 paid holidays, including the newly proposed day after Christmas, which falls on a Friday.

* Appointed Andrew Johnson of District 7, Perry Arant of District 3 and Elizabeth Jones of District 5 to the new Zoning Board of Appeals.

* Appointed Lucius Bellinger of District 7 and reappointed Marilyn Sistrunk of District 5 to the Tax Equalization Board.

* Reappointed Linzie Muldrow of District 7 and appointed Idella Carson of District 5 to the Fire Commission.

* Received as information a request from Abe Salama that council appoint a committee to examine the issue of safety for senior citizens.

* Received as information concerns from Jeffrey about plans for an asphalt plant being built near the Weeping Willow neighborhood. She urged council to oppose the project location.

* Received as information appreciation from Earline Irick who said she finally has public water in her Brentwood Drive home after 20 years of waiting.

* In closed, executive session, discussed a contractual matter concerning the wireless cell telephone contract in light of the sale of Alltel to Horizon.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached by e-mail at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5545. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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