Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2000 Session > Title 4

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SECTION 4-29-10. Definitions.

Whenever used in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, the following terms, whether used in the singular or plural, shall be given the following meanings:

(1) "Bonds" shall include notes, bonds, refunding bonds, and other obligations authorized to be issued by this chapter.

(2) "Governing Board" shall mean any one of the governing bodies of the several counties and incorporated municipalities of the State as now or hereafter constituted; and in the event that any project shall be located in more than one county, the term "governing board" shall also relate to the governing bodies of the several counties wherein such project shall be located.

(3) "Project" means any land and any buildings and other improvements on the land including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, water, sewage treatment and disposal facilities, air pollution control facilities, and all other machinery, apparatus, equipment, office facilities, and furnishings which are considered necessary, suitable, or useful by the following or any combination of them: (a) any enterprise for the manufacturing, processing, or assembling of any agricultural or manufactured products; (b) any commercial enterprise engaged in storing, warehousing, distributing, transporting, or selling products of agriculture, mining, or industry, or engaged in providing laundry services to hospitals, to convalescent homes, or to medical treatment facilities of any type, public or private, within or outside of the issuing county or incorporated municipality and within or outside of the State; (c) any enterprise for research in connection with any of the foregoing or for the purpose of developing new products or new processes or improving existing products or processes; (d) any enterprise engaged in commercial business including, but not limited to, wholesale, retail, or other mercantile establishments; residential and mixed use developments of two thousand five hundred acres or more; office buildings; computer centers; tourism, sports, and recreational facilities; convention and trade show facilities; and public lodging and restaurant facilities if the primary purpose is to provide service in connection with another facility qualifying under this subitem; and (e) any enlargement, improvement, or expansion of any existing facility in subitems (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this item. The term "project" does not include facilities for an enterprise primarily engaged in the sale or distribution to the public of electricity, gas, or telephone services. A project may be located in one or more counties or incorporated municipalities. The term "project" also includes any structure, building, machinery, system, land, interest in land, water right, or other property necessary or desirable to provide facilities to be owned and operated by any person, firm, or corporation for the purpose of providing drinking water, water, or wastewater treatment services or facilities to any public body, agency, political subdivision, or special purpose district. This definition is for purposes of industrial revenue bonds only.

(4) "State Board" shall mean the State Budget and Control Board of South Carolina.

(5) "Security Agreement" shall mean any trust agreement, mortgage, security agreement or assignment by which any bond or bonds issued pursuant to this chapter may be secured.

(6) "Industry" shall mean any person, firm or corporation engaged in any one or more of the enterprises identified in item (3) of this section or any person, firm or corporation providing facilities constituting a project to be used by any one or more of the enterprises identified in item (3) of this section.

(7) "Financing Agreement" shall mean any agreement, including without limitation an agreement whereby a county or incorporated municipality shall lease or sell a project to an industry, made by and between the governing board and any one or more industries by which the industry or industries agree to pay to (and to secure if so required) the county or the incorporated municipality, as the case may be, or to any assignee thereof, the sums required to meet the payment of the principal, interest and redemption premium, if any, on any bonds.

(8) "Tourism, sports, and recreational facilities" shall mean property used for or useful in connection with theme parks, amusement parks, historical, educational or trade museums, cultural centers, or spectator or participatory sports facilities, generally available to the public, including without limitation thereto marinas, beaches, bathing facilities, golf courses, theaters, arenas, and auditoriums.

SECTION 4-29-20. Powers of counties and incorporated municipalities in connection with projects; joint acquisition of projects located in more than one county; authority to issue revenue bonds for certain purposes.

Subject to obtaining the approval from the State Board required by Section 4-29-140, the several counties, incorporated municipalities of the State functioning through their respective governing boards shall have, in addition to such other powers as may be vested in such counties and incorporated municipalities by laws now existing or hereafter enacted, the following powers: (1) to acquire or cause to be acquired, and, in connection with such acquisition, to enlarge, improve and expand, whether by construction, purchase, gift or lease, one or more projects which shall be located within the county, or incorporated municipality; provided, that powers given to the governing board of a county may be exercised in respect to projects anywhere within the county, including any incorporated municipality therein; (2) to enter into agreements with any industry to construct and thereafter operate, maintain and improve a project; (3) to enter into a financing agreement with such industry prescribing the terms and conditions of the payments to be made by the industry to the county or incorporated municipality, or its assignee, to meet the payments that shall become due on bonds; (4) to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of acquiring, by construction and purchase, and in connection with any such acquisition, to enlarge, improve and expand any project, and to secure the payment of such bonds, all as hereinafter provided; (5) to accept any state or federal grant that might become applicable to defray any portion of the cost of any project. No governing board shall have the power to operate any project as a business or in any manner except as lessor thereof.

SECTION 4-29-30. Bonds payable solely from project revenues; bonds are not county or municipal debt; execution, form, delivery, conditions, and sale of bonds; bond anticipation notes.

All bonds issued by a governing board for a project under authority of this chapter shall be limited obligations of its county or incorporated municipality, the principal of and interest on which shall be payable solely out of the revenues derived by the county or the incorporated municipality pursuant to the financing agreement with respect to such a project which the bonds are issued to finance. Bonds and interest coupons issued under authority of this chapter shall never constitute an indebtedness of such county or incorporated municipality within the meaning of any State constitutional provision or statutory limitation but such bonds and coupons shall be indebtedness payable solely from a revenue producing project or from a special source, which source does not include revenues from any tax or license, and shall never constitute nor give rise to a pecuniary liability of the county or incorporated municipality or a charge against its general credit or taxing powers, and such fact shall be plainly stated on the face of each bond. Such bonds may be executed and delivered at any time as a single issue or from time to time as several issues, may be in such form and denominations, may be of such tenor, may be in registered or bearer form either as to principal or interest or both, may be payable in such installments and at such time or times not exceeding forty years from their date, may be subject to such terms of redemption, may be payable at such place or places, may bear interest at such rate or rates payable at such place or places and evidenced in such manner, and may contain such provisions not inconsistent herewith, all of which shall be provided in the proceedings of the governing board authorizing the bonds. Any bonds issued under the authority of this chapter may be sold at public or private sale at such price and in such manner and from time to time as may be determined by the governing board to be most advantageous, and the governing board may pay, as a part of the cost of acquiring any project, and out of the bond proceeds, all expenses, premiums and commissions which the governing board may deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance thereof. All bonds issued under the authority of this chapter except registered bonds, registered otherwise than to bearer and all interest coupons appurtenant thereto shall be construed to be negotiable instruments, despite the fact that they are payable solely from a specified source. The proceedings authorizing the issuance of bonds may provide for the issuance, in the future, of further bonds on a parity with those initially issued, but such proceedings shall preclude the issuance of bonds or any obligations of any sort secured by a lien prior to the lien of the bonds or bonds afterwards issued on a parity with the bonds.

Pending the issuance of bonds, bond anticipation notes may be issued, and to the end that a vehicle be provided therefor, the provisions of Sections 11-17-10 to 11-17-110, as now or hereafter amended, shall be applicable to such bond anticipatory borrowing.

SECTION 4-29-40. Security for payment of bonds; pledge of revenues and financing agreement; procedures upon default.

The principal of and interest on any bonds issued under the authority of this chapter shall be secured by a pledge of the revenues from which such bonds shall be payable, may be secured by a security agreement covering all or any part of the project from which the revenues so pledged are derived, or any property given as security by the industry pursuant to the financing agreement, and may be additionally secured by a pledge of the financing agreement with respect to such project. The proceedings under which such bonds are authorized to be issued or any such security agreement may contain any agreements and provisions customarily contained in instruments securing bonds, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, provisions respecting the fixing and collection of obligations owning under any financing agreement for any project covered by such proceedings or security agreement, the terms to be incorporated in the financing agreements, the maintenance and insurance of the project, the creation and maintenance of special funds, and the rights and remedies available in the event of default to the bondholders or to the trustee under such security agreement, all as the governing board shall deem advisable and as shall not be in conflict with the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that in making any such agreements or provisions a county or incorporated municipality shall not have the power to obligate itself except with respect to the project and the application of the revenues from the financing agreement, and shall not have the power to incur a pecuniary liability or a charge upon its general credit or against its taxing powers. The proceedings authorizing any bonds hereunder and any security agreement securing such bonds may provide that, in the event of default in payment of the principal of or the interest on such bonds or in the performance of any agreement contained in such proceedings or security agreement, such payment and performance may be enforced by mandamus or by the appointment of a receiver in equity with power to charge and collect obligations owing under any financing agreement and to apply the revenues from the project in accordance with such proceedings or the provisions of such security agreement. Any such security agreement may provide also that in the event of default in payment or the violation of any agreement contained in the security agreement, it may be foreclosed by proceedings at law or in equity, and may provide that any trustee under the security agreement or the holder of any of the bonds secured thereby may become the purchaser at any foreclosure sale, if he is the highest bidder. No breach of any such agreement shall impose any pecuniary liability upon a county or incorporated municipality or any charge upon its general credit or against its taxing power.

The trustee or trustees under any security agreement, or any depository specified by such security agreement, may be such persons or corporations as the governing board shall designate, notwithstanding that they may be nonresident of South Carolina or incorporated under the laws of the United States or the laws of other states of the United States.

SECTION 4-29-50. Contracts for construction of projects.

Contracts for the construction of any projects may be let on such terms and under such conditions as the governing board shall prescribe and may be let with or without advertisement or call for bids therefor.

SECTION 4-29-60. Findings necessary prior to undertaking projects; required provisions in financing agreements.

Prior to undertaking any project, the governing board shall find: That the project will subserve the purposes of this chapter; that the project is anticipated to benefit the general public welfare of the locality by providing services, employment, recreation or other public benefits not otherwise provided locally; that the project will give rise to no pecuniary liability of the county or incorporated municipality or a charge against its general credit or taxing power; the amount of bonds required to finance the project; the amount necessary in each year to pay the principal of and the interest on the bonds proposed to be issued to finance the project; the amount necessary to be paid each year into any reserve funds which the governing board may deem it advisable to establish in connection with the retirement of the proposed bonds and the maintenance of the project; and, unless the terms of a financing agreement with respect to a project provide that the industry shall maintain the project and carry all proper insurance with respect thereto, the estimated cost of maintaining the project in good repair and keeping it properly insured. The determinations and findings of the governing board required to be made above shall be set forth in the proceedings under which the proposed bonds are to be issued.

Every financing agreement with respect to a project shall contain an agreement obligating the industry to effect the completion of the project if the proceeds of the bonds prove insufficient, and obligating the industry to pay an amount under the terms of a financing agreement, which, upon the basis of the determinations theretofore made, will be sufficient (a) to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds issued to finance the project, (b) to build up and maintain any reserves deemed by the governing board to be advisable in connection therewith, and (c) unless the financing agreement obligates the industry to pay for the maintenance and insurance of the project, to pay the costs of maintaining the project in good repair and keeping it properly insured.

Every financing agreement in the form of a lease shall contain a provision requiring the industry to make payments to the county or counties, municipality or municipalities, school district or school districts, and other political units wherein the project shall be located in lieu of taxes, in such amounts as would result from taxes levied on the project by such county or counties, municipality or municipalities, school district or school districts, and other political unit or units, if the project were owned by the industry, but with appropriate reductions similar to the tax exemptions, if any, which would be afforded to the industry if it were the owner of the project.

SECTION 4-29-65. Requirement of feasibility report.

After January 1, 1986, before any project may be purchased or leased from any municipality, county, agency, political subdivision, or special purpose district for the purpose of providing a project hereunder, the plan for the purchase or lease must be submitted to the applicable council of governments for the preparation of a feasibility report which shall include the fiscal impact of the proposed action on the taxpayers of each taxing authority affected by the project. The report must be submitted to the governing body of the municipality, county, agency, political subdivision, or special purpose district at least thirty days prior to the execution of the final purchase or lease arrangement.

SECTION 4-29-67. Fee in lieu of taxes required.

(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4-29-60, in the case of a financing agreement in the form of one or more lease agreements for a project qualifying under subsection (B), the county and the investor may enter into an inducement agreement which provides for payment in lieu of taxes (fee) as provided in this section. All references in this section to a lease agreement shall be deemed also to refer to a lease purchase agreement.

(B) In order for property to qualify for the fee as provided in subsection (D)(2):

(1) Title to the property must be held by the county or in the case of a project located in an industrial development park as defined in Section 4-1-170, title may be held by more than one county, provided each county is a member of the industrial development park. Any real property transferred to the county must include a legal description and plat of the property.

(2) The investment must be a project which is located in a single county or an industrial development park as defined in Section 4-1-170. A project located on a contiguous tract of land in more than one county, but not in such an industrial development park, may qualify for the fee provided (a) the counties agree on the terms of the fee and the distribution of the fee payment; (b) the minimum millage rate cannot be lower than the millage rate applicable to the county in which the greatest amount of investment occurs; and (c) all such counties must be parties to all agreements establishing the terms of the fee.

(3) The minimum level of investment must be at least forty-five million dollars and must be invested within the time period provided in subsection (C).

(4)(a) Except as provided in subsections (B)(4)(b) and (D)(4)(a), the investment must be made by a single entity. For purposes of this section, (i) any partnership or other association which properly files its South Carolina income tax returns as a partnership for South Carolina income tax purposes will be treated as a single entity and as a partnership, and (ii) any corporation or other association which properly files its South Carolina income tax returns as a corporation for South Carolina income tax purposes will be treated as a single entity and as a corporation. A corporation and a partnership, which partnership is a "controlled partnership" of the corporation, as provided under Section 707(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code as defined in Chapter 6 of Title 12, as of the date of the execution of the inducement agreement, and both of which will construct their projects on the same site qualifying for the fee, must be treated as a single entity for purposes of this subsection and subsections (B)(3) and (D)(4).

(b)(i) The members of the same controlled group of corporations can qualify for the fee if the combined investment in the county by the members meets the minimum investment requirements. The county and the members who are part of the inducement agreement may agree that any investments by other members of the controlled group within the time periods provided in subsections (C)(1) and (C)(2) shall qualify for the payment regardless of whether the member was part of the inducement agreement; provided, however, in order to qualify for the fee, such other members of the controlled group must be specifically approved by the county and must agree to be bound by agreements with the county relating to the fee; provided, however, such controlled group members need not be bound by agreements, or portions of agreements, to the extent such agreements do not affect the county; provided, further, that with the consent of the county, such members will not be bound by agreements or portions of agreements which do affect the county. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (B)(2), the investments under this subsection (B)(4)(b) must be within the same county or industrial park. Any controlled group member which is claiming the fee must invest at least ten million dollars in the county or industrial park.

(ii) The Department of Revenue must be notified in writing of all members which have investments subject to the fee before or within thirty days after the execution of the lease agreement covering the investment by the member. The Department of Revenue may extend the thirty-day period upon written request. Failure to meet this notice requirement will not adversely affect the fee, but a penalty may be assessed by the Department of Revenue for late notification for up to ten thousand dollars a month or portion of a month with the total penalty not to exceed one hundred twenty thousand dollars. Members of the controlled group must provide the information considered necessary by the Department of Revenue to ensure that the investors are part of a controlled group.

(iii) If at any time the controlled group or any former member (who has left the controlled group) no longer has the minimum forty-five million dollars of investment (without regard to depreciation), that group or former member no longer holding the minimum amount of investment as provided in subsection (B)(3) (without regard to depreciation) will no longer qualify for the fee.

(iv) For purposes of this section, "controlled group" or "controlled group of corporations" shall have the meaning provided under Section 1563(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as defined in Chapter 6 of Title 12 as of the date of the execution of the inducement agreement (without regard to amendments or replacements thereof), without regard to subsections (a)(4) and (b) of Section 1563.

(C)(1) From the end of the property tax year in which the investor and the county execute an inducement agreement, the investor has seven years in which to enter into an initial lease agreement with the county.

(2) From the end of the property tax year in which the investor and the county execute the initial lease agreement, the investor has five years in which to complete its investment for purposes of qualifying for this section. If the investor does not anticipate completing the project within five years, the investor may apply to the county before the end of the five-year period for an extension of time to complete the project. If the county agrees to grant the extension, the county must do so in writing, and a copy must be delivered to the Department of Revenue within thirty days of the date the extension was granted. The extension may not exceed two years in which to complete the project.

There is no extension allowed for the five-year period in which to meet the minimum level of investment. If the minimum level of investment is not met within five years, all property under the lease agreement or agreements reverts retroactively to the payments required by Section 4-29-60. The difference between the fee actually paid by the investor and the payment which is due under Section 4-29-60 is subject to interest as provided in Section 12-54-25(D).

Unless property qualifies as replacement property under a contract provision enacted pursuant to subsection (F)(2), any property placed in service after the five-year period, or seven years in the case of a project which has received an extension, is not part of the fee agreement under subsection (D)(2) and is subject to the payments required by Section 4-29-60 if the county has title to the property, or to property taxes as provided in Chapter 37 of Title 12 if the investor has title to the property.

For purposes of those businesses qualifying under Section 4-29-67(D)(4), the five-year period referred to in this subsection is eight years and the seven-year period is ten years.

(3) The annual fee provided by subsection (D)(2) is available for no more than twenty years. For projects which are completed and placed in service during more than one year, each year's investment may be subject to the fee in subsection (D)(2) for twenty years to a maximum total of twenty-seven years for the fee for a single project which has been granted an extension. For those businesses qualifying under subsection (D)(4), the annual fee is available for no more than thirty years and for those projects placed in service in more than one year the annual fee is available for a maximum of thirty-seven years.

(4) Annually, during the time period allowed to meet the minimum investment level, the investor must provide the total amount invested to the appropriate county official.

(D) The inducement agreement must provide for fee payments, to the extent applicable, as follows:

(1)(a) Any property, title to which is transferred to the county, will be subject, before being placed in service, to an annual fee payment as provided in Section 4-29-60.

(b) Any undeveloped land, title to which is transferred to the county, will be subject, before being developed and placed in service, to an annual fee payment as provided in Section 4-29-60. The time during which fee payments are made under Section 4-29-60 will not be considered part of the maximum periods provided in subsections (C)(2) and (C)(3), and no lease shall be considered an 'initial lease agreement' for purposes of this section unless and until the first day of the calendar year for which a fee payment is due under subsection (D)(2) in connection with such lease.

(2) After property qualifying under subsection (B) is placed in service, an annual fee payment determined in accordance with one of the following is due:

(a) an annual payment in an amount not less than the property taxes that would be due on the project if it were taxable, but using an assessment ratio of not less than six percent, except as provided in subsection (D)(4), and a fixed millage rate as provided in subsection (G), and a fair market value estimate determined by the South Carolina Department of Revenue as follows:

(i) for real property using the original income tax basis for South Carolina income tax purposes without regard to depreciation. However, if real property is constructed for the fee or is purchased in an arm's length transaction, fair market value is deemed to equal the original income tax basis, otherwise the Department of Revenue will determine fair market value by appraisal; and

(ii) for personal property using the original income tax basis for South Carolina income tax purposes less depreciation allowable for property tax purposes, except that the investor is not entitled to any extraordinary obsolescence.

(b) an annual payment based on any alternative arrangement yielding a net present value of the sum of the fees for the life of the agreement not less than the net present value of the fee schedule as calculated under subsection (D)(2)(a). Net present value calculations performed under this subsection must use a discount rate equivalent to the yield in effect for new or existing United States Treasury bonds of similar maturity as published during the month in which the inducement agreement is executed. If no yield is available for the month in which the inducement agreement is executed, the last published yield for the appropriate maturity must be used. If there are no bonds of appropriate maturity available, bonds of different maturities may be averaged to obtain the appropriate maturity.

(c) an annual payment using a formula that results in a fee not less than the amount required pursuant to subsection (D)(2)(a), except that every fifth year the applicable millage rate is allowed to increase or decrease in step with the average actual millage rate applicable in the district where the project is located based on the preceding five-year period.

(3) At the conclusion of the payments determined pursuant to items (1) and (2) of this subsection, an annual payment equal to the taxes due on the project as if it were taxable. When the property is no longer subject to the fee under subsection (D)(2), the fee or property taxes must be assessed:

(a) with respect to real property, based on the fair market value as of the latest reassessment date for similar taxable property; and

(b) with respect to personal property, based on the then depreciated value applicable to such property under the fee, and thereafter continuing with the South Carolina property tax depreciation schedule.

(4)(a) The assessment ratio may not be lower than four percent:

(i) in the case of a business which is investing at least two hundred million dollars which, when added to the previous investments, results in a total investment of at least four hundred million dollars, and which is creating at least two hundred new full-time jobs at the site qualifying for the fee;

(ii) in the case of a business which is investing at least four hundred million dollars and which is creating at least two hundred new full-time jobs at a site qualifying for the fee; or

(iii) in the case of investments totalling at least four hundred million dollars, in a county classified as either least developed or underdeveloped, by a limited liability company and/or one or more of its members or equity holders where the member or equity holder is creating, at the site qualifying for the fee, at least one hundred new full-time jobs with an annual average salary of at least forty thousand dollars within four years of the date of execution of a millage rate agreement.

(iv) in the case of a business which is investing at least six hundred million dollars in this State.

(b) The new full-time jobs requirement of this item does not apply in the case of a taxpayer which for more than the twenty-five years ending on the date of the agreement paid more than fifty percent of all property taxes actually collected in the county.

(c) In an instance in which the governing body of a county has by contractual agreement provided for a change in fee-in-lieu of taxes arrangements conditioned on a future legislative enactment, any new enactment shall not bind the original parties to the agreement unless the change is ratified by the governing body of the county.

(5) Notwithstanding the use of the term "assessment ratio", a business qualifying under items (2) or (4) of this subsection may negotiate an inducement agreement with a county using differing assessment ratios for different assessment years covered by the agreement. However, the lowest assessment ratio allowed is the lowest ratio for which the business may qualify under this section.

(E) Calculations pursuant to subsection (D)(2) must be made on the basis that the property, if taxable, is allowed all applicable property tax exemptions except the exemption allowed under Section 3(g) of Article X of the Constitution of this State and the exemption allowed pursuant to Section 12-37-220B(32) and (34).

(F) With regard to calculation of the fee provided in subsection (D)(2), the inducement agreement may provide for the disposal of property and the replacement of property subject to the fee as follows:

(1)(a) If an investor disposes of property subject to the fee, the fee must be reduced by the amount of the fee applicable to that property.

(b) Property is disposed of only when it is scrapped or sold in accordance with the lease agreement.

(c) If the investor used any method to compute the fee other than that provided in subsection (D)(2)(a), the fee on the property which was disposed of must be recomputed in accordance with subsection (D)(2)(a) and to the extent that the amount which would have been paid under subsection (D)(2)(a) exceeds the fee actually paid by the investor, the investor must pay the difference with the next fee payment due after the property is disposed of. If the investor used the method provided in subsection (D)(2)(c), the millage rate provided in subsection (D)(2)(c) must be used to calculate the amount which would have been paid under subsection (D)(2)(a).

(d) If there is no provision in the agreement dealing with the disposal of property in accordance with this subsection, the fee remains fixed and no adjustment to the fee is allowed for disposed property.

(2) Any property which is placed in service as a replacement for property which is subject to the fee payment may become part of the fee payment as provided in this item:

(a) Replacement property does not have to serve the same function as the property it is replacing. Replacement property is deemed to replace the oldest property subject to the fee, whether real or personal, which is disposed of in the same property tax year as the replacement property is placed in service. Replacement property qualifies for fee treatment provided in subsection (D)(2) only up to the original income tax basis of fee property it is replacing. More than one piece of replacement property can replace a single piece of fee property. To the extent that the income tax basis of the replacement property exceeds the original income tax basis of the property which it is replacing, the excess amount is subject to payments as provided in Section 4-29-60. Replacement property is entitled to the fee payment for the period of time remaining on the twenty-year fee period for the property which it is replacing.

(b) The new replacement property which qualifies for the fee provided in subsection (D)(2) is recorded using its income tax basis, and the fee is calculated using the millage rate and assessment ratio provided on the original fee property. The fee payment for replacement property must be based on subsection (D)(2)(a) or (D)(2)(c), if the investor originally used this method, without regard to present value.

(c) In order to qualify as replacement property, title to the replacement property must be held by the county.

(d) If there is no provision in the inducement agreement dealing with replacement property, any property placed in service after the time period allowed for investments as provided by subsection (C)(2), is subject to the payments required by Section 4-29-60 if the county has title to the property, or to property taxes as provided in Chapter 37 of Title 12 if the investor has title to the property.

(G)(1) The county and the investor may enter into an agreement to establish the millage rate (millage rate agreement) for purposes of calculating payments under subsection (D)(2)(a) and the first five years under subsection (D)(2)(c). This millage rate agreement must be executed on the date of the inducement agreement or anytime thereafter up to and including the date of the initial lease agreement. This millage rate agreement may be a separate agreement or may be made a part of either the inducement agreement or the initial lease agreement.

(2) The millage rate cannot be lower than the cumulative property tax millage rate legally levied by or on behalf of all taxing entities within which the subject property is to be located which is the cumulative rate applicable on the thirtieth day of June preceding the calendar year in which the millage rate agreement is executed. If no millage rate agreement is executed before the date of the initial lease agreement, the millage rate is deemed to be the cumulative property tax millage rate applicable on the thirtieth day of June preceding the calendar year in which the initial lease agreement is executed by the parties.

(H)(1) Upon agreement of the parties, and except as provided in subsection (H)(2), an inducement agreement, a millage rate agreement, or both, may be amended or terminated and replaced with regard to all matters including, but not limited to, the addition or removal of controlled group members.

(2) No amendment or replacement of an inducement agreement or millage rate agreement may be used to change the millage rate, discount rate, assessment ratio, or length of the agreement under any such agreement. However, existing inducement agreements which have not yet been implemented by the execution and delivery of a millage rate agreement or a lease purchase agreement, may be amended up to the date of execution and delivery of a millage rate agreement or a lease purchase agreement in the discretion of the governing body.

(I) Investment expenditures incurred by any investor in connection with a project, or relevant phase of a project for those projects completed and placed in service in more than one year, qualify as expenditures subject to the fee in subsection (D)(2), so long as these expenditures are incurred:

(1) after, or within sixty days before, the county takes action reflecting or identifying the project or proposed project or investment including, but not limited to, the adoption of an inducement or similar resolution by county council; and

(2) before the end of the applicable time period for investments referenced in subsection (C)(2) and (C)(3).

An inducement agreement must be executed within two years after the date on which the county takes action reflecting or identifying the project or proposed project or investment including, but not limited to, the adoption of an inducement or similar resolution by county council; otherwise, only investment expenditures made or incurred by any investor after the date of such inducement agreement in connection with a project shall qualify as expenditures subject to the fee in subsection (D)(2).

(J)(1) Subject to subsection (K), project investment expenditures which are incurred within the applicable time period provided in subsection (I) by an entity whose investments are not being computed in the level of investment for purposes of subsections (B) or (C) shall qualify as investment expenditures subject to the fee in subsection (D)(2) where:

(a) such expenditures are part of the original cost of the property which is transferred, within the applicable time period provided in subsection (I), to one or more other entities which are members of the same controlled group as the transferor entity and whose investments are being computed in the level of investment for purposes of subsections (B) or (C); and

(b) such property would have qualified for the fee in subsection (D)(2) if it had been initially acquired by the transferee entity rather than the transferor entity.

(2) The income tax basis of such property immediately before such transfer must equal the income tax basis of such property immediately after such transfer; provided, however, that to the extent income tax basis of such property immediately after such transfer unintentionally exceeds the income tax basis of such property immediately before such transfer, such excess shall be subject to payments under Section 4-29-60.

(3) The county must agree to any inclusion in the fee of the property described in subsection (J)(1).

(K)(1) Property which has been previously subject to property taxes in South Carolina will not qualify for the fee except as provided in this subsection:

(a) Land, excluding improvements thereon, on which a new project will be located may qualify for the fee even if it has previously been subject to South Carolina property taxes;

(b) Property which has been subject to South Carolina property taxes, but which has never been placed in service in South Carolina, may qualify for the fee; and

(c) Property which has been placed in service in South Carolina and subject to South Carolina property taxes which is purchased in a transaction other than between any of the entities specified in Section 267(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as defined under Chapter 6 of Title 12 as of the time of the transfer, may qualify for the fee provided the fee-paying entity invests at least an additional forty-five million dollars in the project.

(2) Repairs, alterations, or modifications to real or personal property which are not subject to a fee will not be eligible for a fee, even if they are capitalized expenditures, except for modifications to existing real property improvements which constitute an expansion of such improvements.

(L)(1) For a project not located in an industrial development park as defined in Section 4-1-170, distribution of the fee in lieu of taxes on the project must be made in the same manner and proportion that the millage levied for school and other purposes would be distributed if the property were taxable. For this purpose, the relative proportions must be calculated based on the following procedure: holding constant the millage rate set in subsection (G) and using all tax abatements automatically granted for taxable property, a full schedule of the property taxes that would otherwise have been distributed to each millage-levying entity in the county must be prepared for the life of the agreement, for the maximum time period allowed under (C)(3). The property taxes which would have been paid on the property if it was owned by the investor to each millage-levying entity as a percentage of the total of such property taxes for all such entities determines each entity's relative shares of each year's fee payment for all subsequent years of the agreement.

(2) For a project located in an industrial development park as defined in Section 4-1-170, distribution of the fee in lieu of taxes on the project must be made in the manner provided for by the agreement establishing the industrial development park.

(3) A county or municipality or special purpose district that receives and retains revenues from a payment in lieu of taxes may use a portion of this revenue for the purposes outlined in Section 4-29-68 without the requirement of issuing special source revenue bonds or the requirements of Section 4-29-68(A)(4).

(M) As a directly foreseeable result of negotiating the fee, gross revenue of a school district in which a project is located in any year a fee negotiated pursuant to this section is paid, may not be less than gross revenues of the district in the year before the first year for which a fee in lieu of taxes is paid. In negotiating the fee, the parties shall assume that the formulas for the distribution of state aid at the time of the execution of the inducement agreement must remain unchanged for the duration of the lease agreement.

(N) Projects on which a fee in lieu of taxes is paid pursuant to this section are considered taxable property at the level of the negotiated payments for purposes of bonded indebtedness pursuant to Sections 14 and 15 of Article X of the Constitution of this State, and for purposes of computing the index of taxpaying ability pursuant to Section 59-20-20(3). However, for a project located in an industrial development park as defined in Section 4-1-170, projects are considered taxable property in the manner provided in Section 4-1-170 for purposes of bonded indebtedness pursuant to Sections 14 and 15 of Article X of the Constitution of this State, and for purposes of computing the index of taxpaying ability pursuant to Section 59-20-20(3). Provided, however, that the computation of bonded indebtedness limitation is subject to the requirements of Section 4-29-68(E).

(O)(1) Any interest in an inducement agreement, millage rate agreement, and lease agreement, and property to which the agreement relates, may be transferred to any other entity at any time. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any equity interest in any entity with an interest in any inducement agreement, millage rate agreement, or lease agreement may be transferred to any other entity or person at any time.

(2) A single entity, or two or more entities which are members of a controlled group, may enter into any lending, financing, security or similar arrangement, or succession of such arrangements, with any financing entity, concerning all or part of a project and may enter into any sale-leaseback arrangement, including without limitation, an assignment, a sublease, or similar arrangement, or succession of such arrangements, with one or more financing entities, concerning all or part of a project, regardless of the identity of the income tax owner of the property which is subject to the fee payment under subsection (D)(2). Even though income tax basis is changed for income tax purposes, neither the original transfer to the financing entity nor the later transfer from the financing entity back to the original transferor or members of its controlled group, pursuant to terms in the sale-leaseback agreement, affects the amount of the fee due.

(3) All transfers undertaken with respect to the project to effect a financing authorized under subsection (O) must meet the following requirements:

(a) The Department of Revenue must receive notification in writing within sixty days after the transfer of the identity of each transferee and other information required by the department with the appropriate returns. Failure to meet this notice requirement will not adversely affect the fee, but a penalty may be assessed by the department for late notification for up to ten thousand dollars a year or portion of a year up to a maximum penalty of one hundred twenty thousand dollars.

(b) If the financing entity is the income tax owner of property, either the financing entity is primarily liable for the fee as to that portion of the project to which the transfer relates with the original transferor remaining secondarily liable for the payment of the fee or the original transferor must agree to continue to be primarily liable for the payment of the fee as to that portion of the project to which the transfer relates.

(4) Before an investor may transfer an inducement agreement, millage rate agreement, lease agreement or the assets subject to the lease agreement, it must obtain the approval of the county with which it entered into the original inducement agreement, millage rate agreement, or lease agreement. However, no such approval is required in connection with financing-related transfers.

(P) Reserved.

(Q) Reserved.

(R) For purposes of subsections (O)(1)(a) and (P), and subject to subsection (U), each transferee, with respect to a project which is the subject of a transfer, shall be considered to have made amounts of qualified investments represented by the property interest which is subject to the fee and which is transferred, without regard to depreciation.

(S) Reserved.

(T) No inducement agreement, millage rate agreement, or lease agreement, nor the rights of any entity pursuant to any such agreement, including without limitation the availability of the subsection (D)(2) fee, shall be adversely affected if the bonds issued pursuant to any such agreement are purchased by one or more of the entities which are or become parties to any such agreement.

(U)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if an investor fails to make the minimum investment required under subsection (D)(2) within the time provided in subsection (C)(2), then if and to the extent allowed pursuant to an applicable agreement between the investor and the county, the investor is entitled to the benefits of Chapter 12 of this title. Otherwise, the fee provided in subsection (D)(2) is no longer available and the investor is required to make the payments which are due under Section 4-29-60 for the remainder of the lease period.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if at any time following the period provided in subsection (C)(2), the investment based income tax basis without regard to depreciation falls below the forty-five million dollar minimum investment to which the fee relates and is held by an entity or controlled group of entities, then if and to the extent allowed pursuant to any applicable agreement between the investor and the county, the investor is entitled to the benefits provided under Chapter 12 of this title. Otherwise, the fee provided in subsection (D)(2) is no longer available and the investor is required to make the payments which are due under Section 4-29-60 for the remainder of the lease period.

(V) The minimum amount of the initial investment provided in subsection (B)(2) of this section may not be reduced except by a special vote which, for purposes of this section, means an affirmative vote in each branch of the General Assembly by two-thirds of the members present and voting, but not less than three-fifths of the total membership in each branch.

(W)(1) The investor shall file the returns, contracts, and other information which may be required by the Department of Revenue.

(2) Fee payments, and returns calculating fee payments, are due at the same time as property tax payments and property tax returns would be due if the property were owned by the party obligated to make such fee payments and file such returns.

(3) Failure to make a timely fee payment and file required returns shall result in penalties being assessed as if the payment or return was a property tax payment or return.

(4) The Department of Revenue may issue the rulings and promulgate regulations it determines necessary or appropriate to carry out the purpose of this section.

(5) The provisions of Chapters 4 and 54 of Title 12 applicable to property taxes shall apply to this section; and for purposes of such application, the fee shall be considered a property tax. Sections 12-54-20, 12-54-80, and 12-54-155 do not apply to this section.

(6) Within thirty days of the date of execution of an inducement or lease agreement, a copy of the agreement must be filed with the Department of Revenue and the county auditors and the county assessors for the county or counties in which the project is located. If the project is located in a multicounty park, the agreements must be filed with the auditors and assessors for all counties participating in the multicounty park.

(X) Except as otherwise expressly provided in subsection (C)(2), any loss of fee benefits under this section shall be prospective only from the date of noncompliance and, subject to subsection (U), only with respect to that portion of the project to which such noncompliance relates; provided, however, that such loss of fee benefits cannot result in the recovery from the fee-paying entity of fee payments for more than:

(1) three years from the date a return concerning the fee is filed for the time period during which the noncompliance occurs, absent a showing of bad faith noncompliance, in which case such three-year period shall instead be a ten-year period; or

(2) ten years if no such return is filed for the time period during which the noncompliance occurs.

(Y) Section 4-29-65 shall be inapplicable with respect to this section. All references in this section to taxes shall be considered to mean South Carolina taxes unless otherwise expressly stated.

(Z) Reserved.

(AA)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in the case of a qualified recycling facility the annual fee is available for no more than thirty years, and for those projects constructed or placed in service during more than one year, the annual fee is available for a maximum of thirty-seven years.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for a qualified recycling facility, the assessment ratio may not be less than three percent.

(3) Any machinery and equipment foundations, port facilities, or railroad track systems used, or to be used, for a qualified recycling facility is considered tangible personal property.

(4) Notwithstanding subsections (F) and (I) of this section, the total costs of all investments made for a qualified recycling facility are eligible for fee payments as provided in this section.

(5) For purposes of any fees that may be due on undeveloped property for which title has been transferred to the county by or for the owner or operator of a qualified recycling facility, the assessment ratio is three percent.

(6) Notwithstanding subsection (D)(2)(b) of this section, in the case of a qualified recycling facility, net present value calculations performed under the subsection must use a discount rate equivalent to the yield in effect for new or existing United States Treasury bonds of similar maturity as published on any day selected by the investor during the year in which assets are placed into service or in which the inducement agreement is executed.

(7) As used in this subsection, "qualified recycling facility" and "investment" have the meaning provided in Section 12-7-1275(A).

(BB) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the fair market value of property of a pharmaceutical company investing more than four hundred million dollars in one county in this State is the lower of the fair market value estimate (1) as determined pursuant to subsection (D)(2)(a)(i), or (2) as determined by the county in which the investment is located as follows:

(a) for real property, using the original income tax basis for South Carolina income tax purposes without regard to depreciation, less any such basis amount attributable to cost overruns, including capitalized interest overruns; and

(b) for personal property, using the original income tax basis for South Carolina income tax purposes, less any such basis amount attributable to cost overruns, including capitalized interest overruns, and less depreciation allowable for property tax purposes, except that the investor is not entitled to any extraordinary obsolescence.

This subsection applies only to property placed in service before January 1, 2000.

SECTION 4-29-68. Special source revenue bonds.

(A) A county or municipality or special purpose district that receives and retains revenues from a payment in lieu of taxes pursuant to Section 4-29-60, Section 4-29-67, Section 4-12-20, or Section 4-12-30 may issue special source revenue bonds secured by and payable from all or a part of such revenues, subject to the following terms and conditions:

(1) The issuance of bonds is authorized by a duly adopted ordinance of the governing body of the issuer or, if the issuer is a special purpose district, an ordinance of the county council or councils in the county or counties in which the special purpose district is located, and a resolution of the governing body of the issuer, after a public hearing is held at least fifteen days after notice of the hearing is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or municipality or special purpose district.

(2) The bonds are issued solely for the purpose of paying the cost of designing, acquiring, constructing, improving, or expanding the infrastructure serving the issuer and for improved or unimproved real estate used in the operation of a manufacturing or commercial enterprise in order to enhance the economic development of the issuer and costs of issuance of the bonds. Bonds issued pursuant to this section to finance the acquisition of real or personal property may be additionally secured by a mortgage of that real or personal property.

(3) The bonds may include amounts for capitalized interest for a period not to extend beyond the later of (a) the date that is three years from the date of issuance of the bonds and (b) the first date on which any ad valorem taxes (including, but not limited to, county or school district taxes) would have been payable on the property (other than unimproved real property) which is the subject of the payment in lieu of taxes.

(4) The issuer may use proceeds of the bonds (including by establishment of a reserve fund to be used) (a) directly for infrastructure owned or controlled by the issuer or (b) to make loans or grants to, or to participate in joint undertakings with, other agencies or political subdivisions of the State that own or control the infrastructure referred to in item (2) of this subsection.

(5) The bonds are, and must state on their face that they are, (a) payable solely from all or a specifically described part of the payments in lieu of taxes received and retained by the issuer under Section 4-29-60, Section 4-29-67, Section 4-12-20, Section 4-12-30, or Section 13 of Article VIII of the Constitution of this State, (b) not secured by, or in any way entitled to, a pledge of the full faith, credit, or taxing power of the issuer, (c) not an indebtedness of the issuer within the meaning of any state constitutional provision or statutory limitation but are payable solely from a special source that does not include revenues from any tax or license, and (d) not a pecuniary liability of the issuer or a charge against the issuer's general credit or taxing power.

(6) The ordinance authorizing the issuance of the bonds shall specifically describe the portion of the payments in lieu of taxes received and retained by the issuer from which the bonds are payable and by which the bonds are secured.

(7) The bonds may be executed and delivered at any time as a single issue or from time to time as several issues, be in the form and denominations, be of the tenor, be payable in the installments and at the time or times not to exceed the time over which payments in lieu of taxes are scheduled to be received, be subject to the terms of redemption, be payable at the place or places, bear interest at the rate or rates which is payable at the place or places, and contain provisions not inconsistent with this section, all of which must be provided in the ordinance authorizing the bonds.

(8) The bonds may be sold at public or private sale at the prices and in the manner and from time to time as may be determined by the governing board to be most advantageous, and the governing board may pay, as a part of the costs described in item (2) of this subsection, and out of the bond proceeds, all expenses, premiums, commissions, and expenses which the governing board considers necessary or advantageous in connection with the authorization, sale, and issuance of the bonds.

(9) The ordinance may provide for the issuance, in the future, of further bonds on a parity with those initially issued, but the proceedings may preclude the issuance of bonds or any obligations of any sort secured by a lien prior to the lien of the bond or bonds afterward issued on a parity with the bonds.

(10) Pending the issuance of bonds, bond anticipation notes may be issued, and to the end that a vehicle be provided therefor, the provisions of Section 11-17-10 to Section 11-17-110, as now or hereafter amended, are applicable to the bond anticipatory borrowing.

(11) The ordinance authorizing the issuance of the bonds may contain agreements and provisions customarily contained in the instruments securing revenue or special source bonds as the governing board considers advisable, but the issuer does not have the power to obligate itself to impose or maintain any particular level of tax rates.

(B) A county or municipality or special purpose district that receives and retains revenues from a payment in lieu of taxes pursuant to Section 4-29-60, Section 4-29-67, Section 4-12-20, or Section 4-12-30 may pledge the revenues as additional security for general obligation debt or revenue debt of the issuer if the general obligation debt or revenue debt is issued in accordance with items (1) and (2) of this subsection.

(C) A county or municipality or special purpose district that receives and retains revenues from a payment in lieu of taxes pursuant to Section 4-29-60, Section 4-29-67, Section 4-12-20, or Section 4-12-30 may pledge the revenues as additional security for general obligation debt or revenue debt of other agencies or political subdivisions of the State referred to in item (4)(b) of this subsection if the pledge is authorized by a duly-adopted ordinance of the governing body of the county or municipality or special purpose district after a public hearing is held at least fifteen days after notice of the hearing is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or municipality or special purpose district, and if the general obligation debt or revenue debt to which the revenues received from a payment in lieu of taxes are pledged is issued solely for the purpose of paying the cost of designing, acquiring, constructing, improving, or expanding the infrastructure serving the county or municipality or special purpose district in order to enhance the economic development of the county or municipality or special purpose district and costs of issuance of the bonds.

(D) Revenues received by a county or municipality or special purpose district which may be pledged or from which bonds may be payable and secured pursuant to this Section 4-29-68 or Section 4-1-175 may be used jointly to pay or secure a single series of bonds.

(E) A political subdivision of this State subject to the limitation of Section 14(7)(a) of Article X of the Constitution of this State pledging pursuant to this section all or a portion of the revenues received and retained by that subdivision from a payment in lieu of taxes to the repayment of any bonds shall not include in the assessed value of taxable property located in the political subdivision for the purposes of calculating the limit imposed by that section of the Constitution any amount representing the value of the property that is the basis of the pledged portion of revenues. If the political subdivision, before pledging revenues pursuant to this section, has included an amount representing the value of a parcel or item of property that is the subject of a payment in lieu of taxes in the assessed value of taxable property located in the political subdivision and has issued general obligation debt within the debt limit calculated on the basis of such assessed value, then it may not pledge pursuant to this section revenues based on the item or parcel of property, to the extent that the amount representing its value is necessary to permit the outstanding general obligation debt within the debt limit of the political subdivision.

(F) A county, municipality, or special purpose district that receives and retains revenues from a payment in lieu of taxes pursuant to Section 4-1-170, 4-12-30, 4-29-60, 4-29-67, or Chapter 44, Title 12 in which these revenues are derived in whole or in part from a redevelopment project area established pursuant to Title 31, Chapter 6 shall allocate these revenues in accordance with the ordinance of the municipality adopted pursuant to Section 31-6-70 as if these revenues remained ad valorem taxes. All fees collected in the redevelopment project area which are not subject to the ordinance of the municipality adopted pursuant to Section 31-6-70 become payments in lieu of taxes and the portion collected by the municipality may be pledged to secure special source revenue bonds issued by the municipality pursuant to Section 4-1-175 or this section.

(G) If the stream of payments from a fee in lieu of tax agreement becomes insufficient to completely service the payments of interest and principal due pursuant to a debt obligation issued pursuant to Section 4-29-68, a penalty must be imposed, in addition to any amount of fee in lieu of tax payment otherwise due or payable, in the amount necessary to pay all amounts of interest and principal which are not otherwise paid by the pledged fee revenue. This penalty does not apply if the entity obligated to make the fee payments or a member of the control group associated with the entity owns the entire bond issue one year before any such default of payment.

SECTION 4-29-69. Inducement agreement providing for payment in lieu of property taxes.

(A) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Qualified property" means all real and tangible personal property owned, leased, licensed, or acquired by a qualified manufacturer during the consolidation period regardless of (a) when the property is placed into service in this State, and (b) whether the property has been previously subject to property taxes in this State.

(2) "Qualified manufacturer" means a manufacturing facility in this State which:

(a) employed at least seven hundred persons at the beginning of the consolidation period; and

(b) is located in a county which is designated at the beginning of the consolidation period as a less-developed county by the South Carolina Tax Commission pursuant to Section 12-7-1220.

(3) "Qualified consolidation" means:

(a) a restructuring or transfer or series of transfers involving assets of a manufacturing facility in this State and a manufacturing facility which is located in a state other than this State, pursuant to which all or a portion of the assets of the manufacturing facility located in the other state are transferred to a manufacturing facility in this State;

(b) during the consolidation period, (i) the corporations which own or lease the manufacturing facility in the other state and the facility in this State are members of the same controlled group as defined under Internal Revenue Code Section 1563, or (ii) the same corporation owns or leases the facility in this State and the facility in the other state;

(c) at least one hundred new jobs are created at the facility in this State during the consolidation period; and

(d) during the consolidation period, at least ten million dollars of original cost, without regard to depreciation at the time of the transfer to the facility, of manufacturing and related property are added to the facility in this State, either from the manufacturing facility in the other state, or purchased or leased from a third party.

(4) "Payment in lieu of taxes" means one or more payments made to the county at the times and in the amounts as the county, and entity or entities which will initially make the payment in lieu of taxes, may agree, pursuant to a transfer of title to the property which is subject to such payments to the county, and a lease of the property by the county to the entity or entities which will initially make such payments.

(5) "Consolidation period" means the eighteen-month period beginning on the first date that assets are transferred to the facility in this State from the manufacturing facility in the other state. The South Carolina Economic Development Board shall certify in writing to the South Carolina Tax Commission the specific date that the consolidation period begins.

(B) In the case of a financing agreement in the form of a lease or a lease purchase, the county and the investor may enter into an inducement agreement which provides for a payment in lieu of property taxes under this section for qualified property owned by, or leased or licensed to, one or more qualified manufacturers which complete a qualified consolidation between June 1, 1992, and December 31, 1993.

(C) Any interest in the assets which are subject to the payment in lieu of taxes, or the lease relating to the assets, may be freely transferred without restriction, except as the county, and the entity or entities which will make such payment, may otherwise agree. This agreement, and any inducement agreement, may be freely amended or replaced at any time.

(D) Distribution of the payment in lieu of taxes on the project must be made in the same manner and proportion that the millage levied for school and other purposes would be distributed if the property were taxable.

(E) The provisions of this section do not apply to any construction of Section 4-29-67, and to the extent that Sections 4-29-60, 4-29-67, or any other provision of Title 4 are inconsistent with this section, this section controls.

SECTION 4-29-70. Options in leases; consideration for renewal of lease or purchase of project.

Any financing agreement in the form of a lease of any project may include a provision that the industry shall have options to renew such lease and/or to purchase any or all of the leased project on such terms, at such times, and upon such considerations as the governing board shall agree to. The consideration for any renewal of the lease or for the purchase of any or all of the project need not require the payment by the industry of the full market value thereof, but may be fixed at such lesser consideration as the governing board shall determine to be in the interest of the county or incorporated municipality and in furtherance of the policy of this chapter.

SECTION 4-29-80. Additional powers of governing boards.

The governing board has the power to provide that the project and improvements must be acquired by the county or incorporated municipality, the industry, or both, on real estate owned by the county, incorporated municipality, or other agency or political subdivision of the State or the industry, that bond proceeds must be disbursed by the trustee bank or banks or depository during construction upon the estimate, order, or certificate of the industry, and if the financing agreement is in the form of a lease that the project need not be conveyed to the county or incorporated municipality for lease to the industry until its completion. The governing board may authorize the industry to acquire real estate and commence construction in anticipation of the issuance of bonds and to provide that the industry must be reimbursed for the expenditures from the proceeds of the bonds if and when issued. In making the agreements or provisions the governing board does not have the power to obligate the county or incorporated municipality except with respect to the project and the application of the revenues therefrom and does not have the power to incur a pecuniary liability or a charge upon the general credit of the county or incorporated municipality or against its taxing powers.

SECTION 4-29-90. Application of proceeds from sale of bonds; cost of acquiring project.

The proceeds from the sale of any bonds issued under authority of this chapter shall be applied only for the purpose for which the bonds were issued; provided, however, that any premium and accrued interest received in any such sale shall be applied to the payment of the principal of or the interest on the bonds sold; and provided, further, that if for any reason any portion of the proceeds shall not be needed for the purpose for which the bonds were issued, such unneeded portion of the proceeds shall be applied to the payment of the principal of or the interest on the bonds. The cost of acquiring any project shall be deemed to include the following: The actual cost of the construction of any part of a project which may be constructed, including architects' and engineers' fees; the purchase price of any part of a project that may be acquired by purchase; all expenses in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance of the bonds to finance such acquisition; and the interest on the bonds for a reasonable time prior to construction, during construction, and for not exceeding one year after completion of the construction.

SECTION 4-29-100. Payments from county or municipal general funds prohibited; use of lands owned by county or municipality; donations of property or money.

No county or incorporated municipality shall have the power to pay out of its general funds or otherwise contribute, any part of the costs of acquiring a project, except that lands owned by any county or incorporated municipality not required for any other public purpose, may be utilized to the extent required for a project, but under such circumstances the reasonable value of the lands shall be deemed a part of the cost of construction, and shall be paid out of the proceeds of the bonds to the general fund of the county or incorporated municipality. The determination by the governing board of the reasonable value of the land shall be conclusive but review of the determination may be instituted by any interested party within twenty days, but not afterwards, following the publication of notice of the determination in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the land is situated, by proceedings de novo in the court of common pleas of the county. The entire cost of acquiring any project shall be paid out of the proceeds from the sale of bonds issued under the authority of this chapter; provided, however, that this provision shall not be construed to prevent a county or incorporated municipality from accepting donations of property to be used as a part of any project or money to be used for defraying any part of the cost of any project.

SECTION 4-29-110. Refunding bonds.

Any bonds issued hereunder and at any time outstanding may at any time and from time to time be refunded by a county or incorporated municipality, but only with the approval of the State Board being first obtained, by the issuance of its refunding bonds in such amount as the governing board may deem necessary but not exceeding an amount sufficient to refund the principal of the bonds to be refunded, together with any unpaid interest thereon and any premiums, expenses and commissions necessary to be paid in connection therewith. Any such refunding may be effected whether the bonds to be refunded have matured or shall thereafter mature, either by sale of the refunding bonds and the application of the proceeds for the payment of the bonds to be refunded, or by exchange of the refunding bonds for the bonds to be refunded thereby; provided, that the holders of any bonds to be refunded shall not be compelled without their consent to surrender their bonds for payment or exchange prior to the date on which they are payable, or, if they are called for redemption, prior to the date on which they are by their terms subject to redemption. All refunding bonds issued under the authority of this chapter shall be payable in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as are herein provided for the issuance of bonds. In addition to the powers herein granted for the issuance of refunding bonds the county boards may avail themselves of the provisions of Sections 11-21-10 to 11-21-80 (the Advanced Refunding Act).

SECTION 4-29-120. Bonds deemed to be legal investments.

It shall be lawful for all executors, administrators, guardians, committees and other fiduciaries to invest any moneys in their hands in bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter.

SECTION 4-29-130. Bonds, income therefrom, security agreements, financing agreements, and projects are exempt from certain taxes.

The bonds authorized by this chapter and the income therefrom, all security agreements executed as security therefor, all financing agreements made pursuant to the provisions hereof, and all projects so long as county or municipalities owned and the revenue derived from any financing agreement shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of South Carolina except for inheritance, estate or transfer taxes; and all security agreements and financing agreements made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be exempt from South Carolina stamp and transfer taxes.

SECTION 4-29-140. State Board shall approve proposal of governing board; petition shall be filed; investigation; notice of approval; challenging validity of approval.

(A) No bonds may be issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter until the proposal of the governing board to issue the bonds receives the approval of the state board. Whenever a governing board proposes to issue bonds pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, it shall file its petition with the state board setting forth:

(1) a brief description of the project proposed to be undertaken and its anticipated effect upon the economy of the county or incorporated municipality in which the project is to be located and of the areas adjacent to it;

(2) a reasonable estimate of the cost of the project;

(3) a general summary of the terms and conditions of the financing agreement and security agreement to be made, including a statement establishing the basis for the payment of sums in lieu of taxes as required by Section 4-29-60; and

(4) such other information as the state board requires.

Upon the filing of the petition the state board, as soon as practicable, shall conduct such review as it considers advisable, and if it finds that the proposal of the governing board is intended to promote the purposes of this chapter, it is authorized to approve the proposal. At any time following the approval, the governing board may proceed with the acquisition and financing of the project in accordance with the proposal as approved by the state board. Notice of the approval of a proposal by the state board must be published at least once by the state board in a newspaper having general circulation in the county where the project is to be located.

(B) Any interested party, within twenty days after the date of the publication of the notice, but not afterwards, may challenge the validity of the approval by action de novo in the court of common pleas in the county where the project is to be located.

SECTION 4-29-150. Chapter provisions are cumulative; governing board may act at regular or special meeting without notice of proceedings.

Neither this chapter nor anything herein contained shall be construed as a restriction or limitation upon any powers which a county or incorporated municipality might otherwise have under any laws of this State, but shall be construed as cumulative. Subject to the limitations and requirements of Chapter 9, Title 4, of the 1976 Code, the authorizations herein granted may be carried out by any governing board acting at any regular or special meeting and without publication of the proceedings, notwithstanding any restriction, limitation, or other procedure, imposed upon the governing board by any other statute.