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Community leader urges county to require developer funding for heirs‑property and tax assistance in Pine Island plan
Summary
During citizen comments, Teresa White of the Pan African County and Heritage Preservation Network urged Beaufort County to allocate part of a developer’s proposed funds to heirs‑property and delinquent‑tax assistance for historic Black landowners as part of the Pine Island development agreement.
During the public comment period, Teresa White, founder and CEO of the Pan African County and Heritage Preservation Network, urged Beaufort County officials to attach community protections to the Pine Island development agreement, asking the county to set aside funds to assist heirs‑property title clearance and delinquent tax payment assistance for longstanding Black landowners.
White said the Pine Island proposal "does not encroach on any land owned by the people" but noted that heirs property and delinquent tax sales threaten longtime ownership. She recommended that at least $1,000,000 of the developer’s proposed funds be set aside for title‑clearance work with the Center for Heirs Property Preservation and for property‑tax assistance through an organization designated by the council.
White described the historical context that many island owners hold valuable acreage but lack taxable improvements and therefore struggle to generate generational wealth: "You got people with property that's bad at over a million dollars and only got trees and goats and cows. And they can't create any generational wealth that way." She asked the committee to consider having an intermediary such as the Coastal Community Foundation or United Way administer community funds if the plan is approved.
The committee did not take immediate formal action during citizen comment. Officials thanked White and continued with the agenda.
