10/18/2024
Ok, I am stumped on these 3 resolutions on the ballot. It’s really not fair that they’d put these up for our vote without more easily found explanations. It’s a lot to read and understand. Does anyone have an opinion? Thoughts?
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1.
Different perspective from a dear friend…. I’m not buying the No vote. When Kemp signed the House Bill in to law in April it was to put a 3% annual cap on property accessments but still has to go on the Nov ballot for voter approval. Amendment 1.Combines all House Bills mentioned in above post but bottom line it's linked to annual inflation rate which is normally 1.5 to 2% so a YES vote would NOT let Tax Accessors go above the 3% cap increase annually signed by Kemp. We have local residents who's property accessments increased 20% to 40% in one year. All should look at your evaluations & payment from 2019 - 2023. The millage rate drop doesn't mean rip with evaluations this high. It only means higher property taxes and mostly to those who can't afford it. I could take 30 minutes to show you many many examples of the neighborhoods we grew up in that are now owned by Corps, LLC's, etc with Park Ave NY NY addresses who are buying hundreds of these houses way above market price just to get their investors 12 to15 % return on their money. It's destroying the senior 80 year old home owners who's lived in the same houses for 45 years living on fixed income and their property taxes just increased 300 plus plus a year and their having to sell bc of ridiculous evaluations, Wall Street, and other outside investment groups. Macon no doubt is 65% + rental in 2024. Ammendment 2. Creating a real Tax court with an appointed Judge. Absolutely Yes, has anyone of you ever filed an appeal and gone before the Bibb tribunal court to state your case? Enough said, I want a appointed judge that knows the difference in comparable and comprable sale without being forced to go to Superior Court. Amendment 3. Just because you have a 15 K boat doesn't make you wealthy and it's tangible property. Note above post says local counties may have to increase sales tax to make up lost revenue. That's a very good thing to make all citizens pay NOT just the property owners.
All 3 ammendments are for tax cuts for home owners not increases or hidden agendas!! I'm meeting with CPA & Attorney on Monday to confirm my facts are facts. If I'm wrong I'll shout out and shut up but I'm not wrong. Let's not forget Kemp is a Republican and he and other's has been fighting this battle for 3 years to get a Bill passed to put a 3% cap on property accessments and other incentives for home owners. I'm YES YES YES on these ammendments.
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2.
Copied this from Monroe County page. If it’s true, I hope everyone will vote NO on these.
Someone else posted this: Georgia, as early voting gets underway this Tuesday October 15th it is important to know about 3 resolutions that will be on the ballot.
When checking my Voter Registration, I printed out my sample ballot and saw House resolutions 1022, 598 and 808. All three were brief, but written in legalese. They sound great on the surface, but after further investigation and explanation that is not the case. I just attended a meeting where Georgia Representative Jackson explained all three and why they will have a negative impact on our community.
As he pointed out, it’s always good to know who wrote a bill and where they live to help determine who will actually benefit from said Bill. I will be voting NO as recommended on all three resolutions.
1. House Bill 1022 - this effectively makes a statewide exemption that puts home values across all counties equal, taking the power away from the local municipality to determine home values and the mileage rate. This means that areas like Alpharetta (which is where the author of this new Bill lives) will see their taxes go down while ours will go up!! VOTE NO ON HOUSE RESOLUTION 1022.
2. House Resolution 598- If passed, this Bill will fold the Georgia Tax Court under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. Here’s the kicker… this new court would no longer be elected by the people but instead, the governor would appoint the Chief Justice over the court who would then have the power to appoint the remaining members, taking away any power that we have with our votes. Again, here’s the kicker… unlike currently under the separate Georgia Tax Court where if you want to appeal your taxes you can represent yourself in court without any fees, under this new Bill you can no longer represent yourself. You will be required to obtain an attorney and be responsible for all legal fees and court costs. VOTE NO ON RESOLUTION 598
3. House Resolution 808- At first glance it seems great to raise the exemption from $6,500 to $20,000 but the deeper implications were explained in the meeting. It doesn’t just refer to property taxes it says all tangible “PERSONAL” property. Once again this will benefit those in wealthier counties by allowing tax write-offs that most folks in our community will not be able to take advantage of at all. Here’s the kicker on this bill … the tax revenue lost could reach $250 million a year which will negatively affect funding for our area schools. It could also mean local counties might need to initiate a local option sales tax to make up the lost revenue. VOTE NO ON RESOLUTION 696
Historic data shows that the majority of people know nothing about these Bills until they are at the polls standing there so the tendency is to just vote yes. This is how some very dangerous and costly Bills are passed. Hopefully this serves as a reminder for people to go online to print and read your sample ballot ahead of every election. If you don’t, we risk passing bills that hurt us economically and socially in all kinds of ways.
