PICKENS — Aviation tax rates are sky high in Pickens County, at least compared to Upstate neighbors.

According to figures from the South Carolina Aviation Commission, Pickens aviation taxpayers fork over a 10.5 percent tax rate, the highest rate in the Upstate and one of the state’s highest. The figures gave Pickens County Council members something to mull over while planning the fiscal year 2009 budget.

Pickens joins more than a dozen counties with a 10.5 percent rate as of April 2008, joining several Columbia and Charleston area counties. Only two counties, Oconee and Berkley, have a 6 percent rate, though Darlington County is proposing a 6 percent rate as well.

The remaining counties neighboring Pickens, including Anderson and Greenville, carry a 4 percent rate, joining two-dozen counties.

State commissioners recommend lowering the rate to 4 percent in an effort to increase the tax base. Local aeronautics commissioners report about 38 planes going through the county, though only 20 of those pay local taxes.

“We’re not competitive at all,” said County Council Chairman Neil Smith, whose district includes the county airport off S.C. Highway 178 in Liberty.

Currently the county collects about $28,500 from aviation property taxes, according county Finance Director Ralph Guarino. If the tax rate went to 4 percent, the same amount of taxpayers would contribute about $10,000.

Serving the Easley and Pickens communities, the county airport makes a $10.4 million economic impact, according to the state commission, including $600,000 from direct output, $5.7 million in indirect output from 36,750 visitors each year and a multiplier effect of $4.1 million.

Smith said the aviation competition with Oconee is not too heated, since the Oconee airport serves the Clemson University area while the Pickens airport attracts industrial business and resort community residents and tourists.

County council recently approved 10 T-hangars and six corporate hangars for installation in the airport as part of a capital projects priority list. The local aeronautics commission is reporting a full waiting list for hangars.