Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: 843.958.4012

Email:   jdavis@charlestoncounty.org

Release Number: 3057

Date: October 14, 2009

Download the “Special Assessment for Agricultural Real Property” brochure and application online: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/Departments/Assessor/workshop.htm

Charleston County to Hold Agricultural Special Assessment Workshop

Educating local farmers and property owners about agricultural special tax assessment

The Charleston County Assessor’s Office will hold a workshop about the state’s agricultural special property tax assessment at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, in the Charleston County Council Chambers on the second floor of the Lonnie Hamilton III, Public Services Building located at 4045 Bridge View Drive in North Charleston.

Charleston County property owners who maintain their property for farming, mariculture or timber uses are encouraged to attend.

“Property owners who use their property to raise, harvest or store crops; to feed, breed or manage livestock; or to produce plants, trees, fowl or animals may qualify for an agricultural special assessment that could reduce their taxes,” said Toy Glennon, Charleston County Assessor. “However, they have to fill out a separate application to determine if they are qualified.”

An agricultural special assessment could reduce a property’s assessed value (on which property taxes are based) by approximately 97.5 percent. Assessment is the percentage amount of the market or use value of a property that is subject to tax. Therefore, with an agricultural special assessment, a property would only be taxed on approximately 2.5 percent of the property’s value.

The Charleston County Assessor, Zoning and Planning, and Building Inspections Services departments have been working with various agricultural groups to promote and encourage the continuation of farming and maintaining agricultural property throughout the county.

“Property owners may not be not aware of this special assessment or don’t apply for it because they think the process may be complicated,” said Toy Glennon, Charleston County Assessor. “We want to help them understand the special assessment and how to apply.”

The workshop will focus on the general requirements for qualification, the application process, benefits and drawbacks of agricultural special assessment and rollback taxation.

If you have questions about the agricultural special assessment, contact Anna Romanosky, with the Charleston County Assessors Office, at (843) 958-4108.