Council to take up jetport ordinances

By Jim Faile

Published: May 2, 2008

DARLINGTON — Darlington County Council is expected to give final approval Monday to an ordinance lowering the assessment ratio on general aviation aircraft in the county from its current 10.5 percent to 6 percent of the fair market value.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Courthouse Annex/EMS Building at 1625 Harry Byrd Highway just outside of Darlington.

The measure, which is up for third reading, is aimed at encouraging economic development, as well as encouraging the location of aircraft in the county and providing transportation alternatives to industries, businesses, commercial enterprises and citizens.

The ordinance, which was presented for first reading, addresses one of the concerns raised by the S.C. Department of Commerce’s Aeronautics Division in a March 5 letter to council about issues at the Darlington County Jetport.

In the letter, Aeronautics Manager Paul G. Werts wrote that his agency has encouraged the county on numerous occasions to lower its assessment ratio. The letter noted that many surrounding counties have lowered their assessment ratios to 4 percent on general aviation aircraft. Darlington County’s higher rate, he wrote, places the county at a disadvantage in encouraging and retaining aircraft based in the county.

According to the Aeronautics Division’s letter, the Federal Aviation Admini-stration as of March 5 indicated about 50 general aviation aircraft based in the county.

County Finance Director John Williams said in a recent interview that the move will help ensure that the county continues to receive tax revenue paid on aircraft based in the county. With the higher rate, he said, the county risked losing aircraft to other counties with lower rates.

“Other counties have lowered their rates. We’re now coming up to speed on this,” Williams said.

In addition, the Aeronautics Commission uses the assessment ratio in its evaluation formula for state capital improvement and maintenance funding.

Council will hold a public hearing on the ordinance at the start of the meeting before the measure comes up for a final vote.

Council is also expected to give final approval to two ordinances for fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements, one with CitiTrends Inc. in support of a $13 million expansion at the company’s Darlington distribution center, and one in support of the $10 million upgrade at Darlington Raceway that is nearly complete.

The CitiTrends expansion will add about 250,000 square feet of space to the Citi Trends facility in the former Sara Lee Hosiery plant just north of Darlington on U.S. Highway 52.

The expansion will add about 60 jobs at the facility, and could eventually lead to the creation of as many as 250 new jobs, according to interim Darlington County Economic Development Director Gordon McBride.

Public hearings will also be held on those two ordinances before a vote.

Council is expected to vote on second reading on an ordinance that formally changes the name of the Darlington County Airport Commission to the Darlington County Jetport Commission, the name the commission has used unofficially for some years now.

That measure also revises the powers and duties of the commission and specifically makes it an advisory commission only with recommendatory powers. The measure takes away any authority the commission has to spend county funds on the Darlington County Jetport.

Another measure up for a vote on second reading will add the names of those county boards and commissions not currently listed in the county’s code of ordinances to the code and clarify that all of the members of those boards and commissions serve at the pleasure of county council.

Council will also receive for first reading a series of eight budget ordinances for the various budgets that make up the overall county budget for the coming fiscal year, which starts July 1. County Administrator Phyllis Griffitts will present her annual budget message to council during the meeting explaining the various budgets.

And council will consider a Rural Development Administration loan application for $600,000 to help with construction and furnishing of a new public library in Society Hill. The state will provide $250,000 toward the project. No county match will be required.

QUICK FACTS

-- Darlington County Council will hold public hearings on three ordinances up for third and final reading Monday.

-- One of the ordinances will lower assessment ratios on general aviation aircraft in the county. The other two deal with fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements, one with CitiTrends Inc. in support of its recent $13 million expansion and one with Darlington Raceway in support of its $10 million upgrade.

-- The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Courthouse Annex/ EMS Building, 1625 Harry Byrd Highway, Darlington.