Greenville County school board approves Lawrence Road TIF after lengthy public Q&A

The Greenville County Schools board voted 8–4 on Nov. 11 to approve participation in the Lawrence Road tax‑increment‑financing district, authorizing the district to forfeit half of future incremental tax receipts from the redevelopment for up to 30 years to help fund public infrastructure.

The board deliberated for more than two hours after a presentation by district staff and outside counsel that outlined the agreement’s mechanics and the anticipated community impacts. Dr. Royster, the district superintendent, said the TIF would not reduce the district’s current tax receipts; rather, 50% of the additional tax revenue created by new development would go to pay bonds for infrastructure while taxing entities retain the other 50% plus existing taxes. “You still get the taxes,” Dr. Royster said. “This body will receive 56% of the 50%,” he explained, referring to the district’s prorated share of the incremental revenue.

Developers and landowners who addressed the board defended the financing structure as a necessary tool to attract the scale of investment proposed. Gage Weeks, president and CEO of Hollingsworth Funds, which the presenters said is the majority landowner in the redevelopment area, described the TIF as a way to underwrite public infrastructure that the private sector could not reasonably fund up front. Dan Klausner of Verde Development said the developer typically pays to build initial infrastructure, then relies on TIF bond reimbursement tied to the incremental tax base.

Board members pressed legal and financial staff on several points: whether the board could change the TIF term (staff said that changing the initiating city ordinance would be required), what guarantees exist that the project will match the conceptual renderings, how many students the new housing might generate (staff cited roughly 247 school‑aged children at full build‑out in one model), and who bears bond‑default risk (presenters said the bonds would be issued by the city, with the developer and city as primary obligors).

The administration’s staff noted the development is projected at full build‑out to generate district incremental tax revenue in the low‑to‑mid millions annually and cited a long‑range estimate of approximately $18.1 million for the district by the projected term end. Opponents on the board and some public commenters raised concerns that incentives shift risk to existing taxpayers and urged caution; supporters argued the TIF is more favorable to the district than alternatives such as multi‑county industrial park or fee‑in‑lieu arrangements, which historically gave the district far less input and lower revenue shares.

The motion before the committee (item 3.02) was to recommend approval of the resolution permitting the creation of the TIF district as presented. Miss Middleton made the motion and a second was recorded; the roll‑call vote recorded a final tally of 8 in favor and 4 opposed, and the motion carried. The item will advance to the full board for final action as the process continues to involve other taxing jurisdictions and the city’s public hearings.

What happens next: the district’s participation, as approved, is one step among multiple local approvals and does not obligate the district to issue bonds; the city would issue bonds to finance the infrastructure projects and a portion of incremental tax revenue would be used for repayment. The board’s decision advances the TIF to subsequent stages of intergovernmental coordination and public review.

Sources: presentation and Q&A at the Greenville County Schools committee‑of‑the‑whole meeting on Nov. 11, 2024; statements by Dr. Royster, Gage Weeks (Hollingsworth Funds), Dan Klausner (Verde Development); legal counsel and staff.