Auditor receives Duke Energy’s new assessment

The chief deputy auditor for Oconee County has received the new assessment to be applied to the county’s largest taxpayer.  And it amounts to $149.1 million.  Because Duke Energy qualifies for an $18.9 million exemption on the manufacturing portion of the assessment set by the state Department of Revenue, Duke’s 2016 obligation to Oconee County will be $32 thousand less than last year.  However, Chief Deputy Auditor Christy Hubbard says, the Oconee School District will receive an increase of $738 thousand.  Hubbard goes into the November election unopposed for a full term of county auditor, after the June 30 resignation of Ken Nix.  And on Tuesday, September 6 she’ll appear before the county council to recommend a tax levy for 2016.  It’s possible that the county will glean more tax revenue simply due to growth from one tax year to the next.