Travis Abrams, of Advanced Systems Management Inc., cuts wood for a house undergoing complete renovation in Aiken. A tax break on renovations to homes at least 50 years old was approved by the Aiken County Council. Ron Cockerille/Staff

Preserving homes is Aiken County's goal

AIKEN - Fixing up a run-down house in Aiken County is not only the historically correct path to take, it's also a fiscally sound adventure, thanks to a tax break approved by the Aiken County Council on Tuesday night.

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The old depot in Langley was renovated and converted into a library. Homeowners in Aiken County can now get a tax break on renovations. Ron Cockerille/Staff

To encourage historic preservation, the council offered a tax incentive to people who renovate and live in historic and low-to-moderate income properties. The tax break should make it more financially attractive to save old homes in the county, Administrator Clay Killian said.

Under the ordinance, property owners have two years to renovate their homes. At the end of that period, owners can keep the original market value of their home, and will be taxed on that lesser value for eight additional years.

For example, if a $100,000 home rises in value to $180,000 after renovations, the owner will save about $6,166 in property taxes spread across 10 years, county tax officials said. Under the same ordinance, commercial and low-to-moderate-income rental property owners will save about $9,249.

To qualify for the tax break, Mr. Killian said, owners must spend at least 50 percent of the property value to renovate the property, and the house must be at least 50 years old.

The city of Aiken has had the same tax incentive in place since 1994. City Manager Roger LeDuc said city officials asked the county council to pass the ordinance so that residents already getting a break in city property taxes could get the same benefit for their county property taxes.

"It will allow you to get a double hit if you live in the city, and those outside the city will get the tax break from the county," said Mike Reed, Aiken County tax assessor.

Peter Evans and his wife are restoring a house on Laurens Street in downtown Aiken. Mr. Evans said he was aware of the tax incentives available but would not apply.

"I think we would like to be able to build without having more hurdles to jump over," he said. "We would have to get their approval, and it would require great decisions, and we decided we didn't want to go through that process."

Nancy Tinker, a program officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said more counties are starting to provide benefits for restoring historic homes.

"It is starting to happen more frequently because it provides a benefit to owners and an avenue to restore a home when other avenues are more difficult," she said. "There's a trend in that direction."

Reach Peter G. Gilchrist at (803) 648-1395.

--From the Thursday, January 8, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle