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Residents press commissioners for more notice, transparency on data center rezonings and tax impacts
Summary
Residents asked the Columbia County commission to delay or provide more information on recent and proposed data‑center rezonings, questioned tax abatements and homestead offsets, and urged slower, clearer public outreach ahead of a Feb. 3 vote on a parcel.
Multiple residents used the Jan. 6 public comment period to raise concerns about the pace of data‑center rezonings, the adequacy of public notice and the county’s expected fiscal benefits.
Lindsey Brantley and Joanne Murdoch urged commissioners to respect District 4’s rural character and asked for more time and written answers ahead of a Feb. 3 vote on a rezone for Parcel 029037B. Brantley said earlier public notices and town halls were insufficient for residents to process changes and that the county should pause to provide clearer answers.
Blaine Carter and other residents questioned whether the tax benefits discussed at prior meetings were accurate. In response, a commissioner cited an estimate of $118,000,000 per year in property taxes at full buildout for the data center project when fully operational; speakers and commissioners noted the build‑out will take years and interim revenues will be lower.
Other speakers raised broader concerns: Susan Warren argued that some hyperscale data centers supporting artificial‑intelligence operations raise ethical and economic questions about job displacement and unregulated AI use. Commissioners said they would provide follow‑up answers by email and that some policy changes — such as applying data‑center revenues to homestead credits — are being pursued at the state level.
The comments prompted follow‑up commitments from staff to provide answers and background material on taxes, homestead credits and the schedule for upcoming votes.
