Spartanburg County Council considers fee-in-lieu of tax requests

Spartanburg's County Council plans for 2013 include a transformation of the once crime-ridden Northside community at the top of the list.

Andrew Doughman wrote this series of articles for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal as a 2012 National Health Journalism Fellow. Other stories in the series include: 

Northside: Being transformed into a healthy and thriving community

Northside: Story of the mill village is a familiar one

Northside: Single mom looks for college and a good job

Northside: Neighborhood's future depends on healthy choices

Northside: City is following Atlanta redevelopment plan

Late Spartanburg native behind Northside effort

Northside: Cleveland Elementary plays part in redevelopment

Northside: Success of project hinges on housing

Spartanburg's County Council begins 2013 with economic development at the top of its agenda for Monday's council meeting.

A company known only as “Project Cartridge” could be coming to Spartanburg County pending a fee in lieu of tax agreement.

“We hope to get to pass a resolution to help induce this company to come here,” said David Britt, chairman of county council's economic development committee. “This is a great start to the year. We need the jobs and we need that per capita income moving right up that ladder.”

Council will also consider fee in lieu of tax agreements for Benteler Automotive Company, Lockhart Power Company, Conte, Inc., and AFL Telecommunications.

Council also will hear results from the fiscal year 2012 annual financial audit. The audit could reveal any financial troubles at the county, although Britt doubts there will be “fireworks.”

County council will likely approve the Spartanburg County Parks Enhancement Plan, which formalizes how the parks department will prioritize and spend money that it received during last year's budget process.

Chief among the parks projects are a redevelopment of Cleveland Park's playground and new soccer fields at various county parks.

On a related note, council will hear about the new Spartanburg Trails and Greenways Plan, a document that has been in the works for months.

The Monday council meeting follows a formal swearing in ceremony held on Jan. 8 for county officials reelected in last year's election. No county offices were contested, so the composition of county council and other elected offices remains the same.

This story was originally published at GoUpstate.com on January 28, 2013