York County has changed the rules in hopes of saving the Panthers project. Will it work?
A surprise vote Monday night may get the Carolina Panthers headquarters project in Rock Hill back under construction.
York County Council voted 4-3 for a resolution that would commit the county to take “any actions necessary to execute and deliver” a fee agreement with the team, according to the motion made by Councilman Joel Hamilton. The motion would allow fees rather than taxes “as we discussed thoroughly in executive session,” Hamilton said.
There weren’t many specifics on the plan since it wasn’t on the county agenda Monday. More details on the restructured financial package will come later.
Council members who supported the decision Monday night said it signals to the Panthers the county is serious about the project, and it puts people back to work at the site.
Hamilton said he believes the incentive deal discussed in executive session Monday night is better than the one negotiated previously. It’s growth paying for growth, he said, and puts tax revenue from the site back into it.
“We’re not talking about giving money away,” Hamilton said. “We’re talking about an investment in the public assets.”
According to the county it doesn’t involve any government entity borrowing funds. It involves special source revenue credits. With the agreement, the county wouldn’t see tax revenue from the site — it would go to public infrastructure there — for 30 years.
“I think it’s very important that we keep pounding on behalf of the Carolina Panthers and one of the largest economic development booms, whether it’s five, 10, 15, 20 or 30 years from now,” said Councilwoman Allison Love.
Council held its typical business meeting and then spent close to three hours in closed door executive session. Council returned and suspended its rules of order to vote on the Panthers deal.
Chairwoman Christi Cox, who voted against the resolution along with members Tom Audette and Robert Winkler, said the vote was out of order.
“I don’t believe that this is the way the county should do business,” Cox said.
Cox didn’t vote in favor of the initial incentive agreement reached between the county, team, City of Rock Hill and school district that committed future tax revenue to public infrastructure — roads, utilities — related to the project off I-77. Cox said she wants the project, but has concerns the new resolution commits an additional $57 million in incentives to get it. Her biggest concern is public transparency.
“I refuse to do that when I believe our process has not been followed and it comes at additional expense that the taxpayers weren’t given an opportunity to speak out against,” Cox said.
Winkler, who spearheads many economic development projects in his role on council, said he owed it to his voters not to support a plan that came up so quickly.
“This resolution was not on the agenda for tonight,” Winkler said. “It was not in an email to us. I did not see it until executive session tonight.”
Hamilton said he shares concern and discomfort with how the vote came to be. Yet he also spoke of a generational project that’s likely the biggest any on council will ever see in the area. A project the county risks losing, he said, without quick action.
“I also have great concerns for the hundreds of men and women who have worked tirelessly, day after day on this site, to get this project up and whose jobs are currently at risk, and potentially not coming back,” Hamilton said.
Earlier this month Tepper Sports & Entertainment, representing the Charlotte-based NFL team, announced it would pause the headquarters site project in Rock Hill due to missed payment deadlines. The city of Rock Hill contends it hasn’t missed deadlines from a previous incentive deal. First phase construction was set to be complete next year.
“Given the economic realities, the difficult but prudent decision has been made to pause the project,” Tepper Sports announced in early March, in a statement. “The on-going work will continue with our partners to find an economically acceptable solution for all parties to continue this project in Rock Hill.”
In early March, Rock Hill officials said in a statement that the city was unaware of a planned pause in construction and intends to continue honoring its agreement with the Panthers.
Early Tuesday, Rock Hill officials said the city has no other comment on the issue.
A Tepper Sports & Entertainment spokesperson declined comment.
Councilman William “Bump” Roddey asked Rock Hill officials the past two weeks to reach out to the county for help. He agrees the timing of the resolution wasn’t ideal.
“This came up on us real quick,” Roddey said. “It put staff probably in one of the most challenging positions.”
Yet, he said, the project is too big to miss out on for the county.
“This is not the normal course of action,” Roddey said. “But I think the times we’re in, the situation we’re up against, calls for us to suspend the rules and do what we need to do to insure the taxpayers of York County that we still have their best interests at heart.
“It’s better. It gets us back to a point where we’re going to see revenue on the bottom line a lot faster.”
This is a developing story. Check back later for more details.
This story was originally published March 22, 2022 at 10:55 AM with the headline "York County has changed the rules in hopes of saving the Panthers project. Will it work?."
