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Eagle Trace residents describe surprise tax district, warn of heavy homeowner costs
Summary
A resident told Horry County Council the Eagle Trace special tax district was formed via petition without adequate notice and could impose roughly $600,000 in project costs plus about $250,000 in interest on a 50‑home neighborhood; she urged clarity on a promised straw poll and raised a potential conflict of interest involving a councilman.
At the Jan. 6 Horry County Council meeting, Eagle Trace resident Tandra Hertum expanded on earlier public comment about a special tax district that would finance local pothole and drainage work, saying many homeowners were unaware of the petition that formed the district and that the financial burden could be substantial.
"This project would cost $600,000 plus an approximate $250,000 in interest," Hertum said, describing the county's internal bond structure and contending the petition language and millage figures shown to property owners differed from later county communications. Hertum said the petition process did not include adequate notice by flyer, sign, or mail and that some homeowners only learned of tax increases after the district was in place.
Hertum also said the petition listed a millage figure of 300 mills for non‑primary homes, which she described as "insane," and warned that even a reduced millage proposed by the county could still force some residents to sell. She said a resident who organized the petition is a licensed financial advisor and was later appointed to the special tax committee, raising questions about a possible conflict of interest.
The county had previously paused collection and offered a straw poll to gauge resident sentiment; Hertum asked for specifics on the date, voting rules, who would tally the results, and whether the poll would be limited only to property owners as Councilman Mascarelli proposed. She also asked whether the county had reviewed the petition submitted at the last meeting that asked the council to unwind or repeal the tax district and whether funds from the bond had been spent.
Council did not take immediate action at the Jan. 6 meeting; Hertum asked the council to respond to the petition and the outstanding questions before the county moves forward with the special tax district.
