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.
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Click the link below for my AJC commentary on the proposed constitutional amendments to impose a statewide assessment “freeze.”
MY VIEW: Freeze won’t correct property tax problems | ajc.com
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[Senator Chip Rogers is the sponsor of SR-796, a resolution to amend the state constitution to impose a statewide assessment "freeze." His proposal is one of several similar efforts being considered by the State Legislature this session.]
Senator Rogers,
I was very disappointed to see your proposal (SR-796) to amend the Constitution to impose a statewide assessment freeze. I have the greatest respect for legislators like you… because you tend to focus on legislation that can actually make a difference. On property tax reform, however, you have joined the lemming crowd of politicians headed down the politically-popular “assessment freeze” path.
Even more disappointing is the fact that you and I have discussed this topic… and I know that YOU know better!
The so-called “back door tax increase” is the NOT the result of rising assessments. It happens because there is no law that requires taxing authorities to adopt a mathematically-correct millage rate. If the politicians were required to calculate the rate according to the procedure that has been taught by the Dept. of Revenue for decades, the “back door tax increase” would be eliminated. As assessments increase, the millage rate would decrease simply as a process of the math, as long as officials hold the line on the cost of government.
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The following was sent to Georgia’s State Senators following their votes to approve two resolutions that would amend the state constitution to impose a tax assessment “freeze” on all real property.
Greetings, Senator.
I write to explain why either SR-686 or SR-796, both constitutional amendments to freeze property tax assessments, would, if passed not only fail to solve the problem that they are intended to address but would cause additional harm to Georgia taxpayers.
I also want to highlight a simple law change that would accomplish the goals of these two resolutions without the need for a constitutional amendment.
Tax “freezes,” simply by an operation of the math, create inequity in the property tax system. In other words, some taxpayers will pay a higher percentage of their property’s Fair Market Value in tax than will others.
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It was with great disappointment that I read the editorial linked below. I haven’t seen the details of Sonny Perdue’s proposal but, if it is accurately described by the article, our Governor (and/or his staff) are clueless regarding the most basic component of the property tax calculation process.
The politicians continue to address symptoms rather than the actual problem, which is that there is no mathematical connection between the cost of government and the tax rate charged to property owners.
Simply require taxing authorities to adopt a mathematically-correct millage rate– according to the procedure recommended by the Dept. of Revenue for decades– and the "back door tax increase" will be eliminated.
OnlineAthens.com | Opinion | Perdue’s plan could hold line on property tax 01/20/08
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