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Corrected tax bills are expected to go out to Barnwell County property owners on Dec. 12.
Corrected tax bills for the 2025–2026 fiscal year are needed after officials discovered a millage rate error that caused county taxes to be higher than allowed under state law. The original bills, issued in October, included updated property values from the county’s latest reassessment, but did not include a required adjustment, known as a “rollback”, to the property tax millage rate, according to county officials.
“This was an honest oversight, and we want to assure our citizens that the county is taking all the proper steps to make it right,” said Freddie Houston, chairman of Barnwell County Council. “For most taxpayers, the adjustment will be modest, but accuracy and trust are very important to us.”
Since the discovery of the error in early November, county officials have been working with the county auditor, county treasurer, and the S.C. Department of Revenue (SCDOR) to ensure the rollback calculation is accurate and applied consistently across all affected properties.
«The target date for the new bills is Dec. 12,» said Barnwell County Auditor Gwen Kinard at a special Dec. 2 meeting.
At the Dec. 2 meeting, council unanimously approved the third and final reading of an ordinance that amends the previously passed budget ordinance, so that the rollback millage can be applied.
“Anything that’s already been paid will be refunded the difference in the old bill and the new bill,” said Kinard. Refunds will be issued by Barnwell County Treasurer Sandy Cochran’s office.
Normally, bills not paid by the Jan. 15 due date incur a 3 percent penalty effective Jan. 16. However, due to the rollback error, the county has been granted approval by SCDOR to give property owners until Feb. 1 at 5 p.m. to pay their bills without penalty. Bills not paid by Feb. 1 will incur a 10 percent late fee effective Feb. 2. If not paid by March 16, a 15 percent penalty will be added effective March 17.
“We can’t delay the penalties, but we can waive that period,” said Councilman Daniel Alexander of the 3 percent penalty period.
Kinard welcomed property owners to reach out with any questions.
Councilman Alexander thanked Kinard, Cochran and the county’s attorneys for their hard work to fix the error.
During the Nov. 11 meeting, the council appointed Angela Cotton to the county’s Housing Committee and nominated The People-Sentinel’s own Stephanie Shaver to the Barnwell County Animal Shelter board.
In her report from the shelter, Chairperson Milisa Peachey announced that a new shelter director has been hired. “He has hit the ground running,” Peachey said of Jamie Sheppard. “We’ve got some fantastic ideas to keep us on track, move forward, and make some improvements.”
Other updates included news that the Barnwell County Airport has secured a new director after the position had been vacant since March. The county museum also reported that longtime volunteer Milton Harden will resign due to health reasons.
Councilman Travis Hooper provided a transportation update, stating that local road projects are approximately 75 percent complete.
The council approved several financial measures, including the second reading of a solid waste services agreement with the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority that extends the county’s partnership through 2050. The agreement also authorizes a revenue bond not to exceed $30 million for construction of a new landfill phase.
Houston mentioned that Generations Unlimited reported receiving $40,000 from the South Carolina Department of Transportation, bringing its total account balance to about $100,000.
Council also gave first reading by title only to an ordinance amending the county’s 2025–2026 budget to authorize and implement rollback millage, establish updated budget parameters for certain county agencies, and repeal a prior resolution related to those provisions. The council also approved resolutions to adopt a revised personnel policy manual, repealing all previous versions, and to amend the Quad-County Industrial Park agreement to expand the park to include the Delavan Spray, LLC property.
According to the company’s website, Delavan, “part of RW Beckett, is a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality spray nozzles and fluid handling systems. Founded in 1935, the company has grown into one of the leading spray nozzle manufacturers worldwide, supplying more than 30,000 components to thousands of customers across a wide range of industries, with distributors in more than 60 countries.”
A third and final reading was passed for an ordinance approving the conveyance of, and disclaiming all county interest in, property owned by the Blackville Marketing Authority. The property, located on approximately 30 acres in the Town of Blackville, was originally deeded to the authority in 1955 by Horace McLain.
According to the ordinance, the Blackville Marketing Authority—a South Carolina nonprofit corporation that has received county support over the years—is preparing to cease operations and sell the property to a third-party purchaser. A clause in a prior deed stated that ownership would revert to Barnwell County if the authority dissolved. However, the county formally waived that reversion clause and any potential claim to compensation, determining that the sale of the property and its return to the tax rolls would serve the public’s best interest.
The ordinance authorizes the council chairman to execute all necessary deeds and closing documents, allowing the conveyance and disclaimer to move forward. County officials noted that this decision balances legal obligations with broader community benefits by encouraging redevelopment and future tax revenue from the property.
County officials announced an upcoming meeting with Piedmont Medical Services on December 30 to discuss the possibility of bringing an urgent care or emergency room facility to Barnwell County, an effort that has been a growing community priority.
Resident Ben Kinlaw spoke during public comment, clarifying remarks he made during the county’s June meeting. Kinlaw said his previous comments were not critical of council spending but instead focused on improving public accessibility – specifically, the timing of public hearings and the small print size of public notices compared to other counties.
Kinlaw also acknowledged that “he is aware of the county’s $2 million revenue increase from federal programs and understands that certain mandated costs must be met.”
Chairman Houston reiterated the council’s commitment to transparency and fiscal accountability as the county moves forward with its budget corrections and infrastructure projects.
“We appreciate the public’s patience as we work to resolve the millage issue,” he said. “Our goal is to make things right and ensure Barnwell County taxpayers are treated fairly.”
