Richland County commissioners approve 2.5% owner-occupied tax credit as state faces ballot push to abolish property taxes

The Richland County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 23 to adopt a 2.5 percent owner-occupied (piggyback) property tax credit effective Jan. 1, 2026, saying the measure would provide modest, immediate relief to local homeowners amid a statewide campaign to abolish property taxes.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and testimony from local school officials, municipal leaders and state Rep. Marilyn John, who briefed the board on legislation and a separate citizen ballot initiative she said could eliminate property taxes statewide. Commissioners framed the owner-occupied credit as a limited, local-level response while the state pursues broader policy fixes.

Commissioners and county staff described two options available under state law: a piggyback owner-occupied credit and a county-level homestead exemption. County figures presented at the meeting showed the two options would differ in reach and fiscal impact: the owner-occupied credit would touch roughly 32,158 parcels and produce about $1.73 million in countywide tax relief; a county homestead exemption would reach about 9,341 parcels and account for roughly…