Dodging the Assessor

 

Based on the provided sources, JacMal, LLC is not expected to pay any property taxes on the new transfer station facility.

To avoid the financial burden of property taxes, the project's partners are utilizing specific legal maneuvers to shield the facility. The strategies discussed to eliminate the tax liability include:

• The GVEDC "Middleman" Strategy: The primary plan involves the Pocahontas County Solid Waste Authority (SWA) selling approximately two acres of public landfill property to the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation (GVEDC). The GVEDC would then lease the land to JacMal, LLC to construct the transfer station. Using an economic development agency like the GVEDC for a lease-back arrangement is a common administrative practice in West Virginia specifically designed for tax abatement.
• Continued SWA Ownership: Alternatively, the Letter of Intent between JacMal and the SWA noted that the parties would explore keeping the real property under the SWA's direct ownership to ensure it remains exempt from real property tax assessments.

By successfully avoiding property taxes, JacMal and the SWA aim to reduce the overall construction and operational expenses, which is intended to help keep the SWA's lease payments and the resulting "Green Box" fees for residents as low as possible.