County says $8.4 million reimbursement from White Industrial Park will be returned to taxpayers if House Bill 439 and voters allow it

Columbia County officials told the board at the May 5 budget hearing that the development authority reimbursed the county about $8.4 million related to the sale of the White Industrial Park and that the commission’s intent is to return those funds to taxpayers if state law permits.

"We did receive a check for $8.4 million from the development authority ... the intent of the commission is to get that back to the taxpayers," County Manager Mr. Johnson said. He said the county has set that reimbursement aside in a separate account and is awaiting action on House Bill 439, which the presenters said was on the governor’s desk at the time of the hearing.

Officials emphasized legal and procedural limits on how those funds could be returned. Mr. Johnson said staff is modeling the distribution but noted an $18,000 cap on homestead relief could limit how much an individual homeowner could receive without a constitutional amendment or other legislative change. "We do need a constitutional amendment to completely remove that cap," he said, and recommended that the county explore legislative options or a public referendum if broader relief is desired.

Mr. Johnson said if the governor signs enabling legislation, the measure would go to voters in November and any implementation would follow voter approval and appropriate administrative steps. Commissioners reiterated their intent to pursue returning the funds but cautioned the county’s hands are constrained by state law.

The county will continue modeling impacts with the tax commissioner and said it will maximize relief "to the extent allowed by law."