Octapharma project moves forward after unanimous York County Council vote

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — York County Council unanimously passed an amendment Monday evening that members believe will bring Octapharma to Rock Hill.

This vote establishes a 40-year revenue-sharing agreement for the project.

The unanimous decision contrasts sharply with previous county council meetings, which had seen disagreement among several members.

The new agreement was reached after negotiations took place behind closed doors during an executive session lasting approximately one and a half hours.

The deal centralizes all project revenues into a single fund, which will then be distributed among the three involved governing bodies.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Revised tax deal for Octapharma plant heads to Rock Hill City Council

Over the 40-year term, the Rock Hill School District is set to receive just under 67% of the project’s revenues.

The City of Rock Hill will receive just more than 19%, while York County is allocated just under 14%.

William “Bump” Roddey, Councilman for York County District 4, stated that the percentage for the City of Rock Hill aligns with what the city had sought.

He also noted a tentative agreement is in place with the city, though it still requires their final approval.

Roddey expressed confidence in the outcome.

“Once we approved it, you would have thought we scored a touchdown and crossed the finish line because there was a big cheer and a big roar,” Roddey said. “So we’re certainly glad that they are to a good point.”

The County Council also approved a separate motion Tuesday evening, which provides a mechanism to terminate the deal if the City of Rock Hill ultimately does not agree to the new terms.

Councilman Roddey indicated that he believes this scenario is very unlikely.

The agreement remains contingent upon final approval from the City of Rock Hill.

Should the city not agree to the terms, the York County Council has a provision in place to cancel the deal.