Commissioners defer Data-Center dividend policy while administration reviews details

Commissioner Terry introduced a District 6 resolution (Item 2026-0158) proposing a policy that would allocate future tax revenue from data centers and AI-related facilities into a dedicated county fund for community reinvestment, such as energy-equity programs, direct utility assistance and workforce supports.

Terry said tax-assessor ballpark estimates for a typical large data center ranged from $1 billion to $2 billion in assessed value and that one sizable facility could generate approximately $20 million in annual general-fund revenue depending on its size and valuation. "It kind of went between 1,000,000,000 and 2,000,000,000...the revenue calculations were about over $20,000,000 annually," Terry said.

Committee members asked whether administration had reviewed the resolution. Attorney Phillips and COO Williams indicated the administration would study the proposal; commissioners and staff discussed how the proposal differs from tax-allocation-district (TAD) funds because general-fund allocations would be targeted under the resolution and TAD revenues are segregated. There was also a discussion about whether charitable bail funds or other statutory changes affect bail programs (a separate topic discussed in the meeting), which Commissioner Terry asked staff to research.

Because administration had not yet completed its review, the committee moved to defer the resolution for further review and to return with administrative recommendations. Commissioner Terry moved to defer Item 0158 to the March 24 Board of Commissioners meeting with a stop-back in FAB; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. No substantive policy change was approved at this meeting.