Commissioners approve economic-development deal tied to large solar project after Baker Tilly briefing

Decatur County commissioners voted to enter into an economic-development agreement with the developer of a proposed multi‑phase solar project after hearing a tax-impact presentation from municipal advisor Baker Tilly and legal assurances from county counsel.

Baker Tilly municipal financial advisor Greg Balsano told commissioners the project represents roughly $686 million to $689 million in total taxable investment across two phases and would enclose about 5,383 acres inside the project fence. He said the company’s analysis assumes the first phase would be assessed and produce tax receipts beginning in the 2030 tax year and the second phase in 2031. “We are a municipal financial advisor for the county here to kind of present the impacts of the property tax side of things,” Balsano said.

The nut of the discussion was how state law changes to the personal‑property assessment floor (referred to in the briefing as Senate Enrolled Act 1) affect county receipts and how an EDA could secure payments to the county. Balsano presented a 20‑year comparison showing that, without an EDA, the county would see most of the benefit as increased assessed value (and lower tax rates) and roughly $19.2 million in property‑tax receipts attributable to the project over the analysis period. With a proposed 10‑year, 100% abatement on utility (personal)…