Exemption will cut tax revenues

As a senior citizen, I have two questions about the housing developments slated to be built near Graniteville:

1. Doesn't Aiken County Council realize that a person who qualifies for homestead exemption has to live here for only one year before applying for and getting it? The tax revenue from homes which are sold to homestead exemption holders will be reduced by the first $50,000 of taxable assessed property value.

2. Why hasn't there been an effort to bring major shopping centers closer to these areas? Remember that Winn-Dixie and Kroger shut down recently.

George Pixley
Aiken