Jackson commissioners split on Braselton TAD request
Proposal passes with tie-breaker
BY ANGELA GARY
Braselton leaders can move forward with their tax allocation district following a 3-2 vote of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners Monday night.
Commissioners Bruce Yates and Jody Thompson voted in favor of a resolution supporting the TAD, while Dwain Smith and Tom Crow voted against it. BOC chairman Pat Bell broke the tie and voted to approve the resolution.
The TAD will allow county taxes collected in a historic district designated in the town’s old downtown area to be frozen to fund city revitalization and development. Braselton Mayor Pat Graham said at Monday’s BOC meeting that these funds will be used to improve the appearance of the downtown area.
“The appearance of downtown Braselton doesn’t give someone making a large investment a lot of confidence in the area,” Graham said. “…We have lost industrial developments because of the appearance of the downtown area.”
The first priority will be to realign Hwy. 53 to develop a green area, as well as commercial, retail and office development.
The district has 285 acres and the tax value is $6.2 million.
