Live here, pay 75% more

Property taxes

in Oconee County are almost 66 percent higher per person than in all of South Carolina and are markedly higher than county’s with similar populations.

The numbers are part of a state financial analysis

requested by state Sen. Thomas Alexander, a copy of which has been obtained by The Journal.

The South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s Office of Research and Statistics compiled the information for Alexander, who represents Oconee and portions of Pickens County. Although taxes are not paid on a per person basis, the analysis compares Oconee with six other counties and the state on a population basis.

The study’s results are telling in light of the recent debate over taxing and spending in Oconee.

What it shows is that, per person, the county collected $438 for every man, woman and child in fiscal 2008, or $175 more than what property owners paid per person statewide.

The report, dated Oct. 29, clearly shows Oconee standing head and shoulders higher in property taxes collected per person over six other counties with comparable populations.

Oconee County Council Chairman Reg Dexter said Wednesday that the comparison does not tell the whole story.

Dexter said some of the counties Oconee is compared to own their own utilities and can increase water and electricity bills

for revenue.

“We don’t have that luxury,” Dexter said, declining further comment.

Tax data in the report covers a six-year span from fiscal 2002 through fiscal 2008 during which Oconee consistently exceeded statewide per person property tax collections.

Alexander said this week that he requested the information from the state agency. He said the data is a good informational tool that better equips him to answer constituents’ questions because it compares Oconee with other counties.

“I just felt it would be good to see how Oconee fits in the overall picture,” Alexander said. He said he had not shared the information at this point with members of County Council.

The analysis compares Oconee to counties with slightly less population (Darlington, Greenwood and Laurens) and those with slightly more population (Lancaster, Orangeburg and Sumter). It also compares Oconee total revenues and expenditures per capita with that of South Carolina.

The numbers

Per person property taxes in Oconee hovered at or around $300 from fiscal 2002 through fiscal 2005, but then spiked 35 percent to $406 per capita in fiscal 2006, which is the last time the county reassessed property values.

Alexander said the 2006 spike in property taxes was the one thing that jumped up at him while reviewing the information. He said reassessment played a role in the higher numbers, adding that had reassessment been postponed a year, as the Oconee Delegation recommended to council, he doubts per capita property taxes would have spiked as sharply.

The Oconee Delegation wanted reassessment postponed because state lawmakers were working on major tax-reform legislation that included a cap on reassessment values.

Oconee County Treasurer Greg Nowell and others also have pointed to a Duke Energy windfall payment of $14.5 million in 2006 to satisfy deficient tax payments in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Critics maintain that Oconee’s budget has remained inflated since then because the county never reduced the millage rate substantially to make up for both the Duke payment and reassessment.

The new analysis bears out that fact, listing property taxes at $20.2 million in 2005 and $28.4 million in 2006. The next two years, collections grew to $29.3 million and $31.2 million respectively.

Other counties

• While Oconee was collecting per person property taxes of $438 in fiscal 2008, Orangeburg County collected $119 less at $319; Sumter followed with $269; Greenwood, $203; Lancaster, $192; Laurens, $156; and Darlington, $147.

• Oconee’s total revenues per capita also jumped more than 43 percent from $432 in fiscal 2005 to $620 in fiscal 2006. In fiscal 2008 total revenues per person increased another 12.7 percent to $699.

By comparison, total revenues per capita in fiscal 2008 were $441 in Darlington; Greenwood, $733; Laurens, $420; Lancaster, $477; Orangeburg, $830; Sumter, $729; and statewide, $696.

• Data also show that from fiscal 2002 through fiscal 2008, Oconee County had combined total tax revenues of $260.6 million. Only Sumter ($406.1 million) and Orangeburg ($396.3 million) had more total tax revenues than Oconee during the six-year span. Trailing Oconee in total tax revenues were Greenwood ($227.2 million), Lancaster ($215.1 million), Laurens ($188 million) and Darlington ($185.7 million).

• During the same period, Oconee had total expenditures of $201 million. Surpassing Oconee in spending were Orangeburg ($395.5 million), Sumter ($326.6 million) and Lancaster ($254.5 million). Spending less than Oconee were Greenwood ($192.5 million), Laurens ($184.6 million) and Darlington ($177.4 million).

• After subtracting total expenditures from total revenues during the stretch from fiscal 2002-2008, Oconee showed it had not spent $59.5 million, which was second only to Sumter’s $79.4 million.

Upstate Today

carlos@dailyjm.com

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