Please, no new taxes, say Devenger residents

By Charles Sowell  

JULY 26, 2010 7:12 a.m. (0)

It took nearly half of a two hour meeting for Greenville County Council to vote to put a hold on a request by the Devenger Tax District for two-tenths of a mil tax hike and a $10 fee increase.

Most of that time was taken up by Devenger residents who pleaded their case before council both for and against the request. There were allegations of misuse of funds pitted against the need to repair crumbling infrastructure and amenities in the subdivision.

During the council’s extended debate later in the meeting, Councilman Jim Burns noted that the tax district’s books have been audited and no discrepancies were found.

Council voted to put the request on hold until some of the issues raised by opponents could be investigated. It was the second request for an increase in as many years by the Devenger board.

Council approved spending $6,750 from three council members’ contingency funds for projects around the county. Councilwoman Xanthene Norris gave $2,500 for programs in New Washington Heights facility (Happy Hearts) and Just Kids.

Councilman Fred Payne gave $3,000 to the South Greenville Fire Department and Councilman Joe Dill chipped in $750 for the Greenville Symphony performance at the Fountain Inn Cultural Center and $500 to help with expenses at the Trillium Arts Festival in Travelers Rest.

Final approval was given to fire service area tax increase requests for Fountain Inn, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Donaldson, Tigerville, Clear Springs, and Canebreak. Fountain Inn, Mauldin, Simpsonville, and Tigerville all got a half mil bump in assessments; Clear Springs was given four tenths of a mill and Donaldson was given one mil.

Council voted down a request by Councilman Willis Meadows to debate each tax request separately.

Authority to execute lease agreements was approved by council on a unanimous vote. The AARP Foundation/Senior Community Service Program and the South Carolina Business Coalition on Health will be allowed to rent available office space at County Square.

At second reading council OK’d giving $50,000 from the Hospitality Tax Revenue Fund for the 2010-11 USPRO Cycling Championship; a fee in lieu of taxes agreement and an infrastructure credit agreement with “Project Y” in return for an investment of $13 million for land, buildings and infrastructure (machinery) in a multi-county industrial park

Council also approved creation of a special tax district for the Forest Hills Subdivision at second reading.

In a move certain to create controversy during the approval process, council accepted at first reading an ordinance calling for a referendum for on-premises Sunday alcohol sales in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Also accepted at first reading was an ordinance on a new set of agreements for the Greenville Arena District Bi-Lo Center and Volume Services that would terminate Volume Services as the manager at Bi-Lo Center.

County Council next meets on August 10 at 6 p.m. in council chambers at County Square.

Comments

Add New

Leave a Comment
Comments are moderated and may not be posted immediately.
Name:
Email:	do not notifynotify
Title:
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."