State DOR reports Duke assessment

Duke Energy once again will see a lower tax bill from Oconee County. The announcement today from County Auditor Ken Nix made official that the State Department of Revenue has set a lower assessment on which to base Duke’s 2012 obligation for its Oconee Nuclear and other holdings. This year’s assessment is $132 million, down by $11.4 million from last year and could translate to a tax bill due at Walhalla of between $26 and $27 million. At this time last year, Nix was estimating a 2011 Duke tax bill of $28.7 million. In Nix’s annual visit to Oconee County Council next week, he’ll announce the tax levy to be required for the council to fund its new budgets. And some adjustments by the council could be forthcoming.