How the $30 million check is disbursed

That $30.3 million dollar payment from Duke Energy, Oconee’s number one taxpayer, arrived on schedule this week. And now it’s a matter of disbursing portions of the big sum to the various entitled government agencies. More than one-half of the payment that satisfies Duke’s 2017 county tax bill goes to the public schools. The $18.3 million for school operations equates to 54.5% of the $30.3 million check. More than $2 million is to be placed toward debt from a 2017 school bond. Oconee County’s general government is to receive $8.1 million. County roads and bridges will receive nearly $284 thousand from the tax payment; economic development efforts will benefit by more than $148.5 thousand.