MillageRate.com

It is being reported this morning that the House Ways and Means Committee passed out several property tax reform measures including SR-796, a constitutional amendment which would freeze property assessments at the 2007 rate. It was amended to also freeze millage rates set by local governments at the 2008 rate.  All three measures now go the House Rules Committee and then on to the House floor.

The following was sent to the House Rules Committee and others this morning:

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it
is sin.” — James 4:17

Representatives:

Whether you accept the spiritual implications or not, the reasoning behind the above verse is unassailable. It is a greater error for a man who knows the correct course of action to NOT take it, than it is for the ignorant man to make the same mistake.

As a former Chairman of a county Board of Equalization who was trained extensively in property tax matters, I can prove MATHEMATICALLY that proposals such as Sen. Chip Rogers’ constitutional amendment to impose a statewide assessment freeze will not only fail to accomplish its stated goals but will actually HARM Georgia’s most vulnerable property owners while providing a lucrative tax advantage to the most affluent.

I can PROVE that assessment and millage “freezes” will ELIMINATE future property tax cuts and will FORCE tax increases that might otherwise be avoided.

I can also show you how you could promote honesty and transparency in the property tax process, force local officials to control spending, and provide many Georgians with an IMMEDIATE property tax cut simply by rejecting the current legislation and correcting a fundamental deficiency in the current property tax law.

Tax commissioners, appraisers, assessors and Board of Equalization members across the state know exactly what I am talking about. Those with whom I correspond are amazed that the Legislature is bogged down in debate over constitutional amendments, assessment and millage “freezes” and the like when the ONLY EFFECTIVE SOLUTION is so simple.

Without a constitutional amendment, you could adopt legislation that would not only result in an immediate tax cut for a majority of Georgia property owners but could completely eliminate the “back door tax increase” that results from rising assessments. In fact, this legislation would GUARANTEE that most tax bills will actually DECREASE if assessments increase, as long as local officials control spending.

Before you act on SR-796 and similar legislation, I request that you allow me the opportunity to discuss this with you. I am available to meet at your convenience.

Because the harm that SR-796 will cause is so easily documented and because the true solution is so obvious, you have an obligation to your constituents and to the state to investigate and educate yourself before you act.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully,