Dear editor,
At its Feb. 7 meeting (10 a.m.), the Putnam County Board of Commissioners (BOC) will vote on approving an agreement between the Putnam Development Authority (PDA) and a developer, Harmony Road, LLC, which could cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
In August 2021, the BOC approved the rezoning of 71 acres located on Harmony Road to Commercial- Planned Unit Development (C-PUD) in order to accommodate a proposed project for Goodwill Industries. The project was to include a branch of Helms College, a hotel and meeting facility, a bakery, multi-family apartments, and retail space, including a Trader Joe’s.
The agreement now before the BOC has none of this — no Helms College, no hotel, no Trader Joe’s — just 275 build-to-rent houses with a minimum of 500 sq. ft. But you will be happy to know that the project will include a “dog washing station.” Was the 2021 proposal just a “bait and switch?”
The agreement would have the PDA issue $100 million worth of REVENUE bonds to fund the project and would give the developer a 24-year property TAX ABATEMENT — four years for construction, plus 20 years.
What revenue would be generated during construction? What collateral worth $100 million is offered?
To my knowledge, Putnam County has never offered a tax abatement for more than 10 years and has never offered any tax abatement for a residential project.
Putnam County taxpayers would be responsible for paying for services required by the residents of the project without receiving any property tax revenue from the project. Apart from the added costs for fire protection, sheriff, and roads, the taxpayers would bear the cost of transporting and educating the children living in the housing — estimated at a more than $4 million per year increase in school taxes.
The developer claims the project will provide “affordable housing,” but will it? A government rent calculator shows that if a family spends $1,450/month on rent, the household income must be $70,000.
The development used as a model for this project is the “Cottages at Ansley” in Augusta. That development consists of 75 detached housing units on about 18 acres. These cottages currently rent for $2,200/ month. Rents may be higher in Augusta — with a population over 200,000 and budget over $1 billion — salaries are lower in Putnam County and so is our budget. Are we comparing “apples to oranges?”
I urge readers to attend the BOC meeting on Feb.
7, and to please contact your commissioner. Let your voice be heard!
Steve Hersey District Three Commissioner