Columbia County, Georgia is moving closer to finalizing a data center agreement with Google that local officials say could ease the property tax burden for homeowners. The county and its development authority have been working through the terms of a memorandum of understanding tied to an eight million square foot facility planned for the White Oak Technology Park between the communities of Appling and Harlem.
Under the emerging terms, Google would pay the county an estimated 40 million dollars a year for seven years, funds officials say could go toward offsetting a portion of residential property tax bills pending voter approval through a referendum. The project has been described locally as one of the largest private investments in Columbia County's history, with total capital commitment estimates reaching into the billions.
County leaders have characterized the discussions with Google as a long-term economic development partnership rather than a single facility deal, citing the scale of construction jobs and tax revenue the project could bring to the area east of Augusta. Timing on the first payments depends on how quickly construction milestones are reached and whether the referendum passes, with county officials targeting late 2026 or early 2027 for initial funds to arrive. The deal reflects the broader wave of hyperscale data center investment moving into Georgia counties outside the immediate Atlanta metro.
Source: Metro Atlanta CEO - https://metroatlantaceo.com/news/2026/09/georgia-county-moves-closer-google-data-center-deal-says-it-could-lower-property-taxes/