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Residents press developer for guarantees that tax revenue will help Matheson area
Summary
At a community meeting in Elbert County, residents asked whether the projected annual property-tax revenues (developer estimated about $1,000,000) and construction sales taxes would flow to southern communities; developers said estimates were prepared with an economist but cannot promise how the county will allocate revenue.
Several residents expressed skepticism that the project’s tax benefits would reach the Matheson, Simla and southern-Elbert communities that will live nearest the arrays. The developer estimated "approximately 1,000,000 dollars of additional tax revenue from the property taxes" annually and about $3,000,000 in sales-and-use taxes tied to construction, but said exact distribution of those funds depends on county implementation.
"We wanted to generate an estimate of the tax benefits that would come to the community…We worked with a professional economist who looked at the tax policies within the county and within the state," Andrew Krieger said, while adding he could not speak for how the county will apply those revenues. Residents said past statewide revenue promises had not always produced the promised local benefits and requested written guarantees; Krieger replied developers cannot unilaterally bind county allocations and that permit approvals would be for the proposed solar use only.
The exchange highlighted local mistrust about whether tax proceeds will support nearby services. Krieger named local beneficiaries they expect could see revenue, including the Big Sandy School District and Big Sandy Fire Protection District, and said developers are seeking ways to bring local benefits and will consider resident suggestions during follow-up meetings.
