Columbus County approves 120-day notice to end old municipal tax-collection agreements, will negotiate new terms; transfers county parcel at Chapman Park with a

Columbus County commissioners voted to issue the 120‑day notice required to end prior municipal tax‑collection agreements and directed staff to negotiate replacement terms with affected towns, and they approved a deed transferring the county’s portion of Chapman Park to West Columbus Youth Sports Group Inc. with a condition that the property revert to the county if it is unused for a year (except for force‑majeure circumstances).

The actions came during a meeting that drew extended public comment about the county’s January decision to move from a flat $3 per parcel collection fee to a percentage fee (4% of collections). Municipal leaders and residents warned the change could sharply increase municipal costs and urged commissioners to renegotiate before terminating existing interlocal agreements.

Why it matters: The tax‑collection change affects multiple small towns that rely on the county to bill and collect municipal levies. Commissioners said county collections have been operating at a loss and that a new fee structure is intended to cover actual costs; municipal officials argue the proposed 4% would be unaffordable for some jurisdictions and asked for caps or alternate approaches.

Tax‑collection debate and public comment

Public commenters presented details that framed the board’s discussion. Darren Curry (representing the City of Whitehall) read an interlocal agreement he said requires a resolution and 120‑day notice to withdraw from county collection; he said the city paid $12,375 last fiscal year under the $3‑per‑parcel arrangement and that shifting to 4% would raise the city’s annual bill to about $120,000, a figure he described as an approximate 942% increase. Jason Ellerbe, identified in the record as mayor of the town of Brunswick, also submitted written concerns about fiscal impacts on municipalities.

Other commenters, including Josh Ward and Terry Mann, urged the board to negotiate with towns before enforcing a retroactive change. Ward asked why the county would change from a flat fee to a percentage and noted the fee would ultimately be paid by municipal taxpayers. Mann raised operational questions about whether the county’s collection workload actually increases with high‑value accounts and questioned making the rate retroactive.

County response and board decision

County administration and commissioners said staff compiled benchmarking and cost data showing that centralized municipal collections had been underpaid and that the county had absorbed discounts and other costs. County staff told commissioners they estimated the true county cost of performing municipal collections at roughly $150,000 (staff estimate presented to the board) and that total county receipts historically collected for municipalities had been about $32,000 under the old flat fee.

After discussion the board voted to approve the formal resolution to provide 120 days’ notice to municipalities to end prior collection agreements and directed county staff and commissioners to negotiate new terms with towns during that period. The board’s motion included explicit direction to attempt to reach negotiated agreements with the municipalities before the notice period expires.

Chapman Park deed: transfer with reversion clause

Separately, the board considered a resolution and deed conveying the county’s portion of Chapman Park to West Columbus Youth Sports Group Club, Inc. The deed as presented included a 25‑year use restriction requiring the parcel to be maintained and used as a public park; commissioners expressed concern that the deed lacked a practical reversion trigger if the park went unused for an extended period.

The board modified the deed to add a condition that the property would revert to county ownership if it was not used as a park for one year, with an exception for force‑majeure events (for example, a pandemic). With that modification the board approved the resolution and deed. The deed also includes a reversion provision if the corporation ceases to use the land as a public park or dissolves.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution: Adoption of National Day of Prayer proclamation (agenda add‑on) — Motion by Commissioner Bullard; second by Commissioner Scott Floyd; outcome: approved. - Approval of meeting agenda and April 7 regular‑session minutes — outcome: approved. - Housing Authority: Approval of 2025–2026 PHA administrative plan and five‑year PHA plan (2025–2030) — Motion by Commissioner Byrd; second by Commissioner Scott Floyd; outcome: approved. - Chapman Park deed and resolution (transfer to West Columbus Youth Sports Group Club Inc.) — Motion approved with modification (one‑year nonuse reversion and force‑majeure exception); mover/second not specified in transcript; outcome: approved with modification. - Tax collection resolution: Approve 120‑day notice to municipalities to end prior collection agreements, with direction to negotiate new terms during the notice period — Motion by Commissioner Watts; second by Commissioner Scott Floyd; outcome: approved (motion carries; tally not specified in record). - Emergency services: Approve Watson console equipment quote ($142,925) and table office‑furniture purchase — outcome: approved for console; furniture tabled. - Emergency services: Acceptance of Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning Grant award ($15,000) and associated project ordinance — Motion by Commissioner Berg; second by Commissioner Scott Floyd; outcome: approved. - Health: Contract extension with Carolina Physicians Network for women’s/maternity clinic (three‑year extension) — mover recorded as Commissioner Bullard; second by Barbara Featherstone; outcome: approved. - DSS: March 2025 monthly administrative update — accepted. - Finance: Engagement letter and audit contract with Mullins & Jenkins for FY2025 audit ($145,000) — Motion by Commissioner Watts; second by Commissioner Boyle; outcome: approved. - Finance: Budget amendments and project ordinance (insurance proceeds to sheriff vehicle maintenance, three vehicle purchases, airport AWOS county match ~$2,191) — Motion by Commissioner Byrd; second by Commissioner Smith; outcome: approved. - Appointments/reappointments to boards and committees (opioid settlement board, JCPC appointees, etc.) — outcome: approved. - Procedural: Recess to Columbus County Water & Sewer District meetings and subsequent minutes approvals — outcome: approved. - Adjournment — outcome: approved.

What the board did not do: Commissioners did not set a final new fee structure or cap in the meeting; instead they authorized the 120‑day notice and directed negotiations with municipalities during that notice period. Several public speakers asked for a cap or phased implementation; the board instructed staff to meet with municipal leaders and pursue negotiated solutions.

Key documents and next steps

- The county will send the formal 120‑day resolution notice to municipalities as required by the interlocal agreements mentioned in public comment. Commissioners and staff said they will schedule meetings with municipal officials to negotiate alternative terms (for example, potential caps or phased increases). - The Chapman Park deed will be recorded with the modification agreed by the board (one‑year nonuse reversion with force‑majeure exception). - Staff presentation materials, the county’s cost benchmarking matrix, and copies of the interlocal agreements were referenced in the meeting record and are available from county administration on request.

Sources: meeting transcript of the Columbus County Board of Commissioners meeting (public comment, staff presentations, motions and votes).