Columbia County, Development Authority finalizing deal with Google for property tax relief

Columbia County, Georgia, and its Development Authority have finalized a significant deal with Google for a $17 billion data center, which county officials anticipate will lead to substantial property tax relief for homeowners. The Economic Development Authority of Columbia County approved the agreement, securing a commitment from Google to pay $40 million annually to the county for seven years, in addition to $5 million per year for the Development Authority.

County Manager Scott Johnson highlighted the unprecedented nature of this fee structure, stating that it aims to fully fund the homestead tax relief grant, with property tax relief potentially beginning early next year. Johnson emphasized that property tax relief was a key negotiation point with Google, making it possible for the county to fulfill promises to its taxpayers. Currently, tax relief is capped at $18,000 per home, and the county is actively lobbying the state for a constitutional amendment to remove this cap, which would also require voter approval.

County Commission Chairman Doug Duncan reinforced the county's objective of eliminating its share of homestead property taxes, which currently totals around $25 million annually, by utilizing the $40 million from Google. Voters in November will decide on House Bill 439, which, if approved for Columbia County, would add an $18,000 credit, bringing potential total relief to $28,000 off a home's assessed value, with the ultimate goal of full relief through the constitutional amendment. Johnson also noted that data center zoning comprises less than 3% of the county's total landmass, and the fully built data center is projected to generate billions in property taxes over 25 years.