Oconee preps for a new tax season

The Oconee County auditor and the county administrator were to talk yesterday afternoon about the property tax season, on which the county can project spending in 2019-20. Auditor Christy Hubbard plans to make her annual visit next week to the county council and bring with her a recommendation for the 2019 tax levy. Much of that levy hinges on the assessment applied to the county’s biggest taxpayer, Duke Energy. Hubbard says the figures she has received from the state Department of Revenue reflect a decrease in the bill that the utility will be required to meet to satisfy their obligation covering its Oconee County holdings, including the three-reactor nuclear plant. And, according to Hubbard, the figures show Duke’s obligation will likely total about $33 million—although the decrease will likely cost county government $475 thousand and the school district $883 thousand.