Richland County Council is waiting a week to make a final decision on whether to delay its property reassessment for a year.

The council had given preliminary approval to delay reassessment because of uncertainty surrounding a bill the Legislature passed in June to cap increases in values at 20 percent.

Gov. Mark Sanford has until January to decide whether he will sign the bill into law.

County administrator Cary McSwain said county officials wanted to keep their options open in case Sanford were to sign the bill. But McSwain said the council will have to make a decision next week in order to give officials time to prepare tax bills.

If the council delays reassessment, property tax bills mailed this fall will be based on last year’s property values.

— Shelley Hill