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. |