Champaign County Board to consider data center tax policy, NDA prohibition and referendum discussion
The Champaign County Board is scheduled to consider a policy opposing county tax incentives for hyperscale data centers and to discuss a possible nonbinding referendum. The proposals follow public concerns about environmental impacts, water resources and noise, while a separate task force continues developing data center regulations.
The Champaign County Board is set to consider a resolution establishing a county policy against property-tax abatements, payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements and other concessions for hyperscale data centers. The policy would apply only to the county’s share of taxes and would not prevent municipalities from offering incentives or prohibit data center construction. The Committee of the Whole recommended approval, and the measure is scheduled for the board’s Oct. 22 consent agenda.
The board also will discuss a possible nonbinding referendum on data centers, although no ballot language or election date has been proposed. Separately, board members are considering a broad prohibition on nondisclosure agreements involving county business, while the Champaign County Data Center Task Force continues work on a regulatory ordinance. County documents cite public concerns about environmental effects, water resources and equipment noise, but state that no data center applications have been submitted for rural Champaign County.