Council consents to add parcel to Hunter Industrial Park; guest explains fee‑in‑lieu incentives and revenue split

Laurens City Council voted unanimously to consent to the inclusion of a parcel into the Hunter Industrial Park after a guest presenter explained how the multi‑county business‑park mechanism works and how revenues and incentives would be handled.

The Special Guest described the multi‑county business‑park tool as an economic development option the county uses to convert property inside an identified park from ad valorem taxation to a fee‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (FILO) payment. "Waving the magic wand over the top of the property changes it from ad valorem property tax ... to being a fee in lieu of tax," the presenter said, explaining that a FILO structure allows the county to offer inducements such as a 50% special source revenue credit for a period of up to 15 years to incentivize development.

The presenter summarized the revenue distribution agreed in a prior intergovernmental agreement: Laurens City receives 25% of net FILO payments (after credits), 25% is deposited into a special tax allocation fund to be spent within the city, 25% goes to the county, and 25% goes to the school district. The Presiding Officer confirmed that the city's 25% share and the preexisting allocation model would carry forward to the newly added parcel.

The council recorded its consent by approving Resolution 11‑25‑1. No opposition or additional public comment was recorded in the transcript. The consent authorizes the parcel's inclusion under the multi‑county park procedures and implements the revenue allocation framework described by the presenter.

Councilors and staff will follow any statutory or procedural steps required by the intergovernmental agreements and state statute for finalizing park inclusions; the transcript does not list subsequent administrative steps or an exact timetable for implementation.