The General Assembly finds that:

(1) As a result of the closure, realignment, and drastic downsizing of federal military installations and other federal defense sites in the United States, federal property located in the State has and will become available for the state's use. It is in the best interests of the citizens of this State for the State, municipalities, and counties to work in concert and oversee and dispose of federal defense facilities and other excess federal property in an orderly and cooperative manner. It is the intent of this chapter that redevelopment authorities may be appointed to deal with federal defense facilities that have been scheduled for closure, realignment, or drastic downsizing by the United States Congress and to consult with the federal government pursuant to federal law in that connection. If any other incidental excess federal property is included with a scheduled closing, realignment, and drastic downsizing, that property also may be dealt with by the authorities.

(2) The redevelopment of these facilities often may require substantial periods of time and substantial investment in redevelopment of the properties, including public infrastructure on the properties themselves and in the communities immediately surrounding the properties in order to re-integrate the former federal defense facilities into the surrounding communities, and all reasonable means should be provided to assist the redevelopment authorities created pursuant to this chapter to fund improvements for redevelopment including, in the case of properties located within incorporated municipalities, tax increment financing as authorized by Section 14 of Article X of the Constitution of South Carolina.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 462, Section 1; 1998 Act No. 421, Section 1.