County denies tax relief for HUD housing project

Nov. 17– Hardin County commissioners voted 16-3 to deny a request Monday for property tax relief for a corporation providing low cost housing for local low income elderly residents.

"I’d like to make a motion that they pay their taxes," said county Commissioner James Whitehorn.

At issue was approximately $11,000 in county property taxes owed for 2007 and 2008, according to Hardin County Mayor Kevin Davis.

"They’re providing low income housing for those that deserve it," said Commissioner Mike Jerrolds, arguing in favor of granting the relief.

Davis said the county previously agreed to a reduced "payment in lieu of taxes" or PILOT with Buffalo Valley Inc. But, BVI did not obtain the required approval of the state board of equalization needed to finalize the agreement.

BVI built the apartments off Florence Road in Savannah with a grant from the federal Housing and Urban Development. The grant provided all the funds needed for both the land and new construction of the facility.

The mayor said this morning BVI did not even submit its application to the board of equalization until April 2008, and that a similar local operation received PILOT approval within months of applying.

The county may be willing to revisit the issue for the amount of the 2008 taxes if and when BVI is approved for the PILOT, he said.