Mason County schools face loss of $90m data centre tax revenue

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 00:32 · Archive

Mason County schools could lose $90 million in tax revenue from two new data centres if voters reject a property tax levy in November.

Mason County, West Virginia, is developing two major data centres: Nscale Phase 1 and Project Tamarack, with estimated combined investments of $77 billion. The school board's property tax levy is on the November ballot and currently brings in about $9 to $10 million annually.

State Treasurer Larry Pack told WSAZ that data centre tax revenue is tied directly to the levy. If voters approve it, the schools would receive $90 million from the data centres. However, if the levy fails, schools would lose both the regular $9 to $10 million and the entire $90 million data centre contribution.

Pack explained that under West Virginia law H.B. 2014, which incentivises data centre development, the tax obligations to school boards depend on having an active excess levy in the county. If the levy is defeated, the data centre operators would be liable for $90 million less in taxes, effectively allowing them to retain those funds instead of the schools receiving it.

How it is being reported

• Decision 2026 | Nearly $100 million in data center money on the line on Mason County ballotsMason County Schools could lose an additional $90 million in data center money if their tax levy fails in November.WSAZ · 16 Oct, 00:07
• Mason County school board could miss out on $90M from data centers if levy fails, says TreasurerCHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) -- According to the latest report from Treasurer Larry Pack's office, Mason County could be missing out on major tax revenue associated with the two high-impact data centers going up in the area. The analysis estimates a total investment of $65 billion for Nscale Phase 1 and $12 billion for Project Tamarack. [...]Wowktv · 15 Oct, 01:45

In this story: Mason County · Larry Pack · Mason County Board of Education

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