Of course, you know our solution. Require taxing authorities (cities, counties, school boards) to “do the math.” As assessments increase, the millage rate must decrease, simply as an operation of the math, as long as the politicians hold the line on the cost of government services.
Hancock County, GA is typical in a state where very few politicians even understand the millage rate process:
The county historically had a high millage rate, but very low property assessments. Hill said the assessments are now in line with surrounding counties, but with the high millage rate, taxes have soared.
Local tax revolt in Hancock County | ajc.com
An open letter to the Hoschton City Council:
As you revise your charter, I would suggest, in regards to the calculation and adoption of the millage rate, that the charter simply require that you follow the procedure that has been recommended and taught by the Department of Revenue for decades.
There is only one CORRECT way to calculate the millage rate so that government takes no more and no less from its property owners than required to fully fund the budget.
You can learn the correct way to calculate the rate at www.millagerate.com/howto.htm . I am available to discuss the benefits of following the correct procedure at your convenience.
The millage rate, currently a hot button issue in Hoschton, is one area [Council member Jim] Jester wants to re-evaluate. Right now, he said, Hoschton can levy a property tax "from 0 to infinity."
"I mean literally it can be anything without a public referendum," he said.
Hoschton revamping 90-year-old charter
Reported in the Walton Tribune:
In 1999, the millage rate was at 8 and had steadily declined to the 2008 rate of 6.6. However with property values slipping and assessments dropping, council members were told by city number crunchers during a July 12 retreat in Amelia Island, Fla., a millage rate hike is advised.
The Walton Tribune
Read the story:
The proposed school spending plan would mean a millage rate increase of 1.538 mills, bringing the total to 17 mills.
Peach BOE OKs tax increase – The Sun News – Macon
Democrat Senators Tim Golden (D-Valdosta) and Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna) have co-authored an editorial highlighting the foundational problem with HB-233, Rep. Edward Lindsey’s assessment cap legislation that passed the Senate yesterday and is headed for the Governor’s desk:
We do need to deal with rising property taxes in a responsible way. State government has actually been a big part of the problem – especially when it comes to shifting the burden to the local level. By handcuffing local governments through drastic funding cuts and unfunded mandates, the state has practically guaranteed that property taxes will go up, and go up they have.
We have railed against this harmful legislation for weeks, but our reasoned analysis fell on deaf ears. Although the two Senators failed to offer the only workable solution to the problems with Georgia’s tax code, they recognized that the State Legislature, with what “solution” it offers, usually just compounds the problem.
Erick at Peach Pundit questions just how committed to `tax relief` the two Democrats are. Neither Senator even voted when the time to oppose HB-233 came.
Valdosta Daily Times – Passing the buck to local governments is not ‘tax relief’
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