Augusta's working list of upcoming special-purpose sales tax projects is down from $185.3 million to $183.3 million, and it no longer includes $8 million to redevelop Regency Mall.
On Wednesday, City Administrator Fred Russell revealed his adjusted list during a meeting with Hephzibah and Blythe city officials.
Asked about the mall allocation, Mr. Russell said he wouldn't comment on it until the commission's sales-tax workshop at 3 p.m. today.
The city used a $75,000 federal grant to hire F.A. Johnson Consulting Group to devise a mixed-use, mixed-income plan for the Regency site.
Early project lists had $8 million for the "Regency Mall/Rocky Creek Initiative," but the mall's New York-based owners say they want $50 million for it.
The new list has $4.5 million for Hephzibah and Blythe, but Hephzibah is asking for $6.2 million and Blythe is asking for $1.3 million.
Hephzibah City Commission Chairman Robert Buchwitz said his city needs $5 million to upgrade its sewer system, which has fallen out of Environmental Protection Division compliance because of copper discharges.
Mr. Russell said he'll weigh their requests and present his recommendation to commissioners today.
The project list likely will be tweaked further before commissioners approve a final list.
Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Please use a different picture of Fred Russell. Every time this one is posted, people get angry.
If the mall owner thinks the fair market value is $50 million, I hope the city is using that figure for the tax basis on that property.
Inspect Regency Mall. It would be interesting to see exactly what kind of shape the structure is in, condemnation might be in order.
They also need to remove the gym at Paine College. No way that this will pass.
If I remember correctly, Hephzibah and Blythe voted against becoming part of Augusta-Richmond County. Why do they now expect Augusta-Richmond County to give them money?
Because their citizens pay sales tax as well?
$8 million for the regency mall? how long was that included in the budget? and where has that money went all these years?
WTF? Paine College has nothing to do with this article.
I agree patriciathomas... He looks like STEPHEN KING... Freaky!!!
Maybe he's saying Paine college needs a bigger gym I guess. I would be all for giving some tax money. To ASU so they can get a football stadium. Them having a D-1 football team would help out Augusta tremendously.
Maybe he's saying Paine college needs a bigger gym I guess. I would be all for giving some tax money. To ASU so they can get a football stadium. Them having a D-1 football team would help out Augusta tremendously.
Help the economy and kill the sales tax.....period. If you give them the money they will spend that and ask for more. It really does not help with property tax relief because it creates projects that require property taxes to maintain them. People, you better stop letting them take your money. The only ones that want these taxes are either employees or vendors. Either leave the sales tax for infrastructure projects or end it. You simply can not grow government when the private sector is going through the toughest time since the 1930s.
The problem with regency is the surronding neighborhood. Five miles north south east and west of the mall needs to be bull dozed.
Actually, Spiderman, he looks like Alfred E. Newman. And "What, me worry?" fits Fred Russell's administrative style perfectly. He takes no responsibility for anything that goes on under his areas of control.
Thank the Lord that the Regency Mall boondoggle takeover is off the table for a while.
And Patricia, I hope the Chronicle continues to run that picture, because we need to remain angry at the corruption and wastefulness in city government, much of it at the feet of Fred (What, me worry?) Russell.
down from $185.3 million to $183.3 million.. how do they get 8 million out of that...
Did you all miss this part, "The city used a $75,000 federal grant to hire F.A. Johnson Consulting Group to devise a mixed-use, mixed-income plan for the Regency site." WTF!?!?!?!? Since when do we spend public funds to help an INDIVIDUAL private land owner plan the use for their private property? WTF? More studies that will NEVER BE USED!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!! I hate this. waste waste waste! Yet they always have to cut the arts huh? Add this to the other stack of wasted dollars.
Pointstoponder, I pay taxes when I go through SC, doesn't mean I get any benefits from SC. If they bail out their citizens, or give them a stimulus check, do I get one? No. I agree with No Longer Amazed. Blythe and Hephzibah should be on their on. As for Regency, here's a group they need to contact: http://www.dem-tech.com/
pointstoponder: Yes, their citizens pay sales tax as well, but is it to Augusta-Richmond County. Coulmbia County, North Augusta, etc. residents pay sales tax in Augusta-Richmond County, so are they entitled to a share?
Signal Always: I guess we think alike. I was typing while you were posting!
Absolutely right, Brad. The city is picking winners and losers among private developers and other real estate owners. The city spends taxpayer money for studies to benefit the "connected" landowners and developers to the detriment of property owners in general. The government does not need to pay for development studies. That's for landowners and developers to do.
No Longer and Signal, Hepzibah and Blythe are part of Richmond County. They pay sales tax and property tax here just like you do.
It should be easier for Hephzibah wastewater personnel and police to canvas businesses in Hephzibah and find out who is flushing copper compounds into the sewer. That would be WAY cheaper than building a plant to treat copper.
Little Lamb, while the police are going door to door testing water for copper, who do you think will be stopping Mr. KwXXXXXous from stealing copper?
In the first place, Regency Mall isn't worth $50m and appers to be in need of a huge renovation to make it usable again. In the second place, we have heard several different plans to use this albatross--but nothing ever happened. The cost to renovate was way too high. So, what's the plan this time? Also, if the budget was $185.3m how do they figure that it has been reduced only $2m after excluding the $8m for Regency Mall? Did they mean the budget is now reducted to $177.3m?
his smile is one of the cat that just swallowed another canary, and the canary is the poor homeowners who will have to absorb another "haircut" this year so the 10 knuckleheads on the 8th floor can waste it on countless more "studies"...well everyone who voted to keep them in office here it comes.....same goes for the inept morons on the school board
Jisomjr you sure do talk alot. But I haven't seen you run for the commission, the school board or the mayor. So all you are is talk a bunch of hot air. Posting on Augusta chronicle is not going to change anything.
I have yet to understand why time and money is being wasted over property that doesn't belong to the city-county. Enough of hearing about Regency Mall. It's a dump. Let the New Yorkers have it.
Griesella just because its a dump now doesn't mean it has to stay that way. There are plenty of places in america that were dumps that are very nice and lovely now. I think it should be turned into a technical college. Or a football stadium for Augusta state university. Or into a school like Davidson and AR Johnson.