The Columbia County Public Facilities Authority discussed possible incoming applications during its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
County Manager and board member Scott Johnson said as of the meeting, no applications had been received, but to his understanding the City of Harlem was working on one that he believed would be sent in the next few weeks.
“We would be a conduit, they would be responsible for their own debt, they would be responsible for their own issuance cost and those sorts of things,” Johnson said. “So, they’re [Harlem] moving forward with that one.”
Johnson added that Stacey Gordon, the water utility director, is interested in using the PFA to move quicker on some of the projects that are upcoming. Gordon has been put in touch with a municipal banker and they are also working on an application.
The county is also looking at using the PFA to fast forward some of the 2023-2028 SPLOST projects, Johnson said. He added that the market is in their favor and the county would like to take advantage of the interest rates today before they increase.
“There’s a potential that we would have three issuances coming up, I would say in the next three to six months, with none of those being a guarantee,” Johnson said.
Stephanie Hill is the managing editor and covers Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
