Camden County voters will decide on a freeport exemption for fulfillment and distribution centers.
KINGSLAND, Ga. — Registered voters in Georgia will head to the polls Tuesday for the Presidential Preference Primary Election. Along with choosing their nominee for president, Camden County voters will be asked an additional question on their ballot.
Voters will either mark ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for a freeport exemption for fulfillment or distribution centers. Many distribution or fulfillment centers hold the items people order online for a short period of time before they are delivered to the customer’s door.
James Coughlin, the executive director for the Camden County Joint Development Authority, said this freeport exemption would eliminate the tax on the temporary inventory.
“It is a tax break, in a sense, but it’s really almost inappropriate to tax this as inventory since it doesn’t belong to the company. These are items strictly passing through their warehouse,” Coughlin explained.
Coughlin said this will not raise taxes for residents, nor will it impact the county’s budget. He said this exemption could be beneficial for bringing new business to the county.
“It’s a way to attract more investment here, create more jobs here. We think we’re perfectly positioned for it, as well, our geographic proximity to Florida, the airport, the ports, etc. So, we really think this will be one more thing to make us competitive,” Coughlin said.
Currently, there are no distribution centers in Camden County; however, a development group is looking to build one off Exit 7 on I-95.
“They’ve planned one for about three million square feet. It’ll be three separate buildings there. They’re going to develop that and then try to attract some distribution companies to locate there. And that’s why they see this as a tool to help them attract them here,” Coughlin said.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Camden County on Tuesday.
