ROCK HILL, S.C. — As the mayors of several tourism cities in South Carolina urge state lawmakers to pass S.665, known as the Panthers Bill, the tax incentive legislation remains in limbo as the clock ticks towards a deadline.
"It's been a long road to get here," said Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys.
He along with other leaders in his city have been working to bring the Carolina Panthers' headquarters to Rock Hill, South Carolina.
However, with the state's regular session ending on Thursday in Columbia, the clock is ticking for the bill to be voted on.
"This is a really big deal for our state. Yes, it will be in Rock Hill. Yes, that's a wonderful place for it to be because of our abilities and history with sports tourism," Gettys said.
Rock Hill wants to build the facility just south of the Cherry Road exit off I-77.
The Panthers Bill would give tax incentives to the team, tax breaks that amount to roughly $115 million. Some lawmakers said the headquarters would bring 150 new jobs to the Rock Hill area. The state's Department of Commerce said it could bring in a total net value of $188 million dollars to South Carolina over the next 15 years.
But not everyone has been supportive of the bill. Senator Dick Harpootlian has questioned the bill from the beginning, demanding proof of where the revenue will come from. He said he wants to make sure the state will benefit from the deal if the incentives are given.
"The lack of transparency surrounding this deal is shocking," said Sen. Harpootlian in a speech to fellow lawmakers on Tuesday. "Commerce's public announcements routinely parrot the corporate benefactor's claim that a deal will create X number of jobs by copying the corporation's press release. That is not disclosure; it is propaganda," he continued during his 13-page speech.
On Tuesday, Harpootlian released the bill to the floor for a debate and a vote. It was a decision that was welcomed by Gettys and others in Rock Hill.
"It'll be a great day for the City of Rock Hill," Gettys said as he hoped for the bill to pass.
Panthers Bills from both the house and senate were pushed to the end of the calendar. It's unclear if lawmakers will even get to vote on the bill by the end of their session on Thursday.
"This is a bad bill for South Carolina," said Harpootlian.
"No one stood up when Boeing came to South Carolina. No one stood up when Volvo came to South Carolina, and both of those companies came under the same incentive bill," added Gettys.
The mayors of Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Greenville all support the bill as well as Governor Henry McMaster.