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Miller County officials consider joining regional joint development authority to boost manufacturing job incentives
Summary
Commissioners heard a presentation on forming a joint development authority with Early County and other South Georgia counties that could allow Miller County to access larger state tax credits for new manufacturing and distribution jobs; no formal vote was taken and staff will return with text and next steps.
At a February meeting of the Miller County Commission, a county official urged the commission to adopt a resolution to join a regional joint development authority that would let the county pool state job tax-credit benefits with neighboring Early County.
The proposal would let Miller County leverage Early County’s higher state ranking (tier 1) to increase state tax credits offered to eligible manufacturers and distribution centers locating in Miller County — potentially offering up to $4,000 per new job under certain conditions, the presenter said.
The joint development authority concept presented was based on a state template and a 1963 statute that establishes joint development authorities, the presenter said. Under the model described, the joint authority typically has no paid staff; local appointees govern the authority and coordinate with existing county development authorities and downtown development authorities.
Presenter Jamie (role/title not specified) told commissioners she and Suzanne Reynolds had prepared draft bylaws and a resolution drawn from the state template. Jamie said Early County plans to vote on the same resolution in March and that having Miller County adopt the resolution would help include the counties in a package submitted to the state for recognition as a joint development authority.
Jamie said participation could change the county’s eligibility thresholds and reduce the number of new jobs required to trigger higher tax-credit levels, calling the arrangement “a tastier carrot for businesses” and a way to use state incentives instead of local abatements. She also said that joint authorities commonly serve as a conduit to apply for grants when beneficial.
Commissioners asked procedural questions about representation, and Jamie said Miller County would appoint representatives (she named Kevin and herself as potential representatives). County legal review had begun but was not complete; the presenter asked the commission to consider adopting the resolution tonight if the attorney’s review returned in time.
No formal resolution was passed at the meeting. Commissioners said they would wait for the county attorney’s final text, with one commissioner noting the board could read the resolution and vote at the next meeting. Jamie and county staff said they would return with the finalized language and contacts from the state as requested.
Next steps: staff will provide the attorney-reviewed resolution text for the commission to consider at a future meeting; Early County is scheduled to vote on the same package in March, according to the presentation.
