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Friday, March 10    |    Upstate South Carolina News, Sports and Information

Company offered tax deal for jobs
County approves $12 million in incentives to lure 'Pogo' here

Published: Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 6:00 am


By Ben Szobody
STAFF WRITER
bszobody@greenvillenews.com

Greenville County formally offered an undisclosed company $12 million in tax incentives Tuesday in exchange for $100 million in local investment and 600 middle-class jobs the firm would create if it picks Greenville over a competing location.

The vote by County Council wasn't unanimous, as it often is on tax incentives. Lone dissenter Scott Case said the amount is "excessive," although he stressed during the council meeting and in a later interview that he is "very bullish" on the project.

The county's tax break is one part of a total package that could include state legislation and city of Greenville incentives to lure the company to the county. Public officials have declined to identify the company, code named "Project Pogo," saying the deal could fall apart if its name becomes public.

There was no public debate on the matter in either of two council sessions Tuesday. The Committee of the Whole heard about the project in executive session.

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It was an unusual move designed to make sure all council members had an opportunity to provide input on the deal and a harbinger of how important the new jobs and investment could be to Greenville County, said Councilwoman Judy Gilstrap, who chairs the Finance Committee.

Council Chairman Butch Kirven has said the project could generate $11 million a year in new revenues for the county and could invest $200 million total in its first decade.

Gilstrap said the new jobs would pay an average of $54,000 a year.

The only public comment of the evening came after the committee's executive session, which began with eight council members, county economic development chief Jerry Howard and an attorney whom Kirven identified as Jim Price of the McNair Law Firm.

When the session ended, two council members -- Case and Bob Taylor -- had joined the group. Case said he was excited about the project but couldn't support the tax package because of its size.

He later told The Greenville News that his objection was based on his own analysis of "how truly competitive" the project is between Greenville and one other location.

"Obviously, I've had a few years' experience working on these," Case said. He chaired the Finance Committee for eight years.

No one else spoke on the matter. The committee approved the measure by a 9-1 vote, and again by the same tally at the full council meeting.

Councilman Cort Flint, who works for the McNair firm, recused himself.

Price, who watched the vote from the spectator seats, exited soon after.

State Sen. David Thomas has said the Legislature also will take up a measure that would extend tax incentives to the prospective firm that were previously off limits.

Greenville City Council recently met in closed session to discuss the project, and Mayor Knox White said the council could meet again this week to discuss tax incentives.

Ashley Fletcher contributed to this report.


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WHAT"S AT STAKE
  • Project Pogo may bring a headquarters operation to Greenville County with about 600 jobs paying an average of $54,000 a year.

  • Related
    Related coverage
    City Council to meet today about 'Project Pogo' (03/10/06)

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