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County cites Mecklenburg example: one campus could generate about $7 million in annual property tax revenue
Summary
County staff told residents that a typical hyperscale campus they viewed in Mecklenburg County was valued at about $1 billion, which at Smyth County's rate would yield roughly $6.9–$7.0 million in annual property tax revenue; staff also cited 150–250 potential jobs per campus depending on configuration.
Smyth County staff used a Mecklenburg County example to illustrate potential fiscal and employment impacts from a hyperscale data‑center campus. Staff said a typical campus there had an approximate real‑estate value of $1 billion; at the county’s current levy (about 69¢ per $100), this equates to roughly $6.9–$7.0 million in annual real‑estate tax revenue.
“One data center alone could net 50% of the current tax revenue we receive from real estate,” the county staff member said, citing the comparison with Mecklenburg County’s long‑running development. Staff also said a typical campus they toured had three to five buildings, 250,000 square feet each, and the jurisdiction reported between 30 and 50 jobs per building — often cited as roughly 150–250 permanent jobs per campus.
Staff repeatedly cautioned that the county’s estimate is illustrative; actual tax revenue, jobs and community effects would be site‑and contract‑specific and depend on final assessed value and any negotiated incentives.
