TO AMEND ACT 1041 OF 1970, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ASSESSMENT OF TAXES IN OCONEE COUNTY, SO AS TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP AND COMPOSITION OF THE OCONEE COUNTY BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Items (a), (b), and (c) of Section 4 of Act 1041 of 1970, as last amended by Act 175 of 1975, is further amended to read:

        "(a)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, there is hereby created the Oconee County Board of Assessment Appeals. The powers and duties of the Oconee County Board of Tax Appeals are devolved upon the Board of Assessment Appeals. The board shall consist of nine eight members to be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of a majority of the resident members of the Oconee County Legislative Delegation pursuant to the requirements defined in item (b).

        (b)    At least one member shall be appointed who is a resident of the City of Seneca, at least one who is a resident of the Town of Walhalla, at least one who is a resident of the of the Town of Westminster, at least one who is a resident of the upper section of Oconee County, and at least one who is a resident of the lower section of Oconee County. One member must be appointed from each of Oconee County's five county council single-member election districts, and each resident member of the Oconee County Legislative Delegation shall nominate one additional member. Of these eight members, at least one member of the board shall be actively engaged in the business of marketing real estate, at least one actively engaged in the construction industry.

        (c)    The incumbent members of the Oconee County Board of Assessment Appeals shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed and qualify pursuant to this section's amended provisions. The terms of the members shall be for three years or until their successors are appointed and qualify. Of the members first appointed two shall serve for one year, two shall serve for two years, and three shall serve for three years. The members of the board may succeed themselves. Vacancies on the board for any reason shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the manner of the original appointment. Each board member shall be compensated on a per diem basis at a figure to be determined by the Oconee County Legislative Delegation."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.