Duke amends 2014 Oconee assessment

Oconee Auditor Ken Nix announced today that Duke Energy has changed its Oconee assessment for this year, and the correction will equate to an increase for the county.  Nix says his office received word late last week from the state Department of Revenue that Duke had made an error in York County and the result is that Duke’s Oconee assessment, on which the utility’s county tax bill will be figured, changes from $130 million for 2014 compared with $132.5 million for the 2013 assessment.  The state Industrial Abatement or tax incentive given by the state has increased one million from the previously certified number.  According to Nix, Duke’s tax bill could be as much as $27 million based on last year’s millage and what ws approved September 2 by the Oconee County Council.  “As far as changes to the millage value,” Nix said, “This increase could equate to approximately a two mill decrease from what previously has been approved by County Council.”  Nix plans to meet again with County Council next week.