Oconee tax rate to remain unchanged

Oconee County Council decided it’s better to shun a small tax decrease this year to help avoid or deflect a tax increase next year. And with that the council last night decided to keep the county tax mill rate at 215—even though it was told that a revised Duke Energy assessment will mean an additional $405 thousand. Based on that revised assessment, Auditor Ken Nix gave the council the option to drop the 2014 tax rate by 1.9 mills. Councilmen are worried, however, about a potential scenario next year in which the state abolishes the local government fund which Reg Dexter, budget chairman, said would create a $2 million “hole” in the county’s 2015-16 budget.