If the local government can still increase the millage rate to increase property taxes anyway, why wouldn’t the local government Opt In to HB 581 to help the homeowner? Seems like doing so, is a win-win. What am I missing? Excellent Article by the way with an excellent counter as well!
I'd like to offer a counterpoint to Mr. Pierce's "What HB 581 Means for Georgia".
First off, to get right to the point, all property owners should vote YES on Amendment 1! I mean, come on, how often do we get a chance to vote to lower, or limit, our tax bill, not increase it?
Dade County has had this similar form of assessment freeze in place since 2000 or so, and it has not done any noticeable harm. In fact, from what I can see, as I peak over the bluffs on the westside of Lookout Mtn, the last 25 years has seen an increasingly prosperous and well managed county, in part forced to by the assessment freeze to spend their tax dollars wisely.
In point 2, Mr. Pierce explains the inequality of property taxes that would develop under Amend 1 and HB 581. Property taxes have never been equal. My neighbor pays less per acre than I do because he has a conservation easement, or because he is 75, or because he is a veteran,, or certain businesses get property tax breaks, or, or, or.....you get the picture. Tax equality is a myth. Amendment 1 offers much needed relief to home owners of all strips, old, young, rick, poor, new, long time residents. Vote Yes!
In point 3, I would take issue with the statement that this type of law fails to limit government spending. Sure, the County Commission can raise the millage rate, but you can bet they think long and hard about losing in the next election if/when they do. The way it is now, they just say "nothing we can do, the state forces us to re-assess every two years blah, blah, blah, I never raised your taxes". Amendment 1 inherently puts the brakes on rising property taxes. Vote Yes on Amendment 1.
Point 4 addresses the "backdoor to your wallet". Sure thing, Mr. Pierce is correct on this premise. However, the fees and other tax options have been with us even ass our property taxes have risen (largely due to assessments). Every opportunity to do so, county and school boards seek to raise money using other means besides millage rate increases, almost always stating, "if you don't vote for this then your property taxes will increase". So you vote for it and what happens....your property taxes increase anyway!!! Vote Yes on Amendment 1 to stop the backdoor property tax raising via re-assessment!
Point 6 (seem to be missing point 5) states Sales taxes are regressive. Well, sales taxes burdens can be adjusted somewhat by where you shop and what you buy, and when you buy it. Similar to point 4 above, the author states local sales taxes were meant to lower our property tax burden but they do not. That is due to the profligacy of tax and spend officials, not property owners. What would you rather have, More local sales tax and higher property tax, or more local sales tax and lower property tax.? That is what it boils down to. Property taxes are stuck in mud, so vote for re-assessment relief and vote Yes on Amendment 1. Your property can't get up and get taxed in a lower millage rate jurisdiction.
Point 7, is just verbiage, and is solely the authors opinion, keeping in mind he is a writer, and a good ne, but not an economist or housing market expert.
Point 8, California! what self respecting denizen of northwest Georgia shudders at the prospect of becoming anything like California! I mean other than the fantastic weather and Pacific ocean. Point 8 is a replay of previous points. Vote Yes on Amendment 1!
On Point 9, well, yes, this assessment freeze to just the level of inflation each year, IS a nightmare to school boards, and county commissioner too, and well it should be. Its time for property owners to get relief from the nightmare of ever increasing property taxes, in the order of 10-25% per year, almost entirely due to re-assessments. But seriously, again, as we've seen just over in Dade county, where an assessment freeze has been in place for over 20 years, the school is still functioning well, and county students are still getting educated. Governing officials should be forced to spend more wisely. This point, as with some others, are a scare tactic.
Finally, point 11 shows even better reason to vote for Amendment 1. The language in the underlying legislation, HB 581, allows local governments to "opt-out" of implementing the law, and instead put in place more targeting home-owner relief in various forms. So, no one is being forced to do anything.
I don't see any valid reason to vote against Amendment 1. Hey, vote your wallet, make our overlords sweat a little, and vote Yes on Amendment 1 this election year!
If the local government can still increase the millage rate to increase property taxes anyway, why wouldn’t the local government Opt In to HB 581 to help the homeowner? Seems like doing so, is a win-win. What am I missing? Excellent Article by the way with an excellent counter as well!
I'd like to offer a counterpoint to Mr. Pierce's "What HB 581 Means for Georgia".
First off, to get right to the point, all property owners should vote YES on Amendment 1! I mean, come on, how often do we get a chance to vote to lower, or limit, our tax bill, not increase it?
Dade County has had this similar form of assessment freeze in place since 2000 or so, and it has not done any noticeable harm. In fact, from what I can see, as I peak over the bluffs on the westside of Lookout Mtn, the last 25 years has seen an increasingly prosperous and well managed county, in part forced to by the assessment freeze to spend their tax dollars wisely.
In point 2, Mr. Pierce explains the inequality of property taxes that would develop under Amend 1 and HB 581. Property taxes have never been equal. My neighbor pays less per acre than I do because he has a conservation easement, or because he is 75, or because he is a veteran,, or certain businesses get property tax breaks, or, or, or.....you get the picture. Tax equality is a myth. Amendment 1 offers much needed relief to home owners of all strips, old, young, rick, poor, new, long time residents. Vote Yes!
In point 3, I would take issue with the statement that this type of law fails to limit government spending. Sure, the County Commission can raise the millage rate, but you can bet they think long and hard about losing in the next election if/when they do. The way it is now, they just say "nothing we can do, the state forces us to re-assess every two years blah, blah, blah, I never raised your taxes". Amendment 1 inherently puts the brakes on rising property taxes. Vote Yes on Amendment 1.
Point 4 addresses the "backdoor to your wallet". Sure thing, Mr. Pierce is correct on this premise. However, the fees and other tax options have been with us even ass our property taxes have risen (largely due to assessments). Every opportunity to do so, county and school boards seek to raise money using other means besides millage rate increases, almost always stating, "if you don't vote for this then your property taxes will increase". So you vote for it and what happens....your property taxes increase anyway!!! Vote Yes on Amendment 1 to stop the backdoor property tax raising via re-assessment!
Point 6 (seem to be missing point 5) states Sales taxes are regressive. Well, sales taxes burdens can be adjusted somewhat by where you shop and what you buy, and when you buy it. Similar to point 4 above, the author states local sales taxes were meant to lower our property tax burden but they do not. That is due to the profligacy of tax and spend officials, not property owners. What would you rather have, More local sales tax and higher property tax, or more local sales tax and lower property tax.? That is what it boils down to. Property taxes are stuck in mud, so vote for re-assessment relief and vote Yes on Amendment 1. Your property can't get up and get taxed in a lower millage rate jurisdiction.
Point 7, is just verbiage, and is solely the authors opinion, keeping in mind he is a writer, and a good ne, but not an economist or housing market expert.
Point 8, California! what self respecting denizen of northwest Georgia shudders at the prospect of becoming anything like California! I mean other than the fantastic weather and Pacific ocean. Point 8 is a replay of previous points. Vote Yes on Amendment 1!
On Point 9, well, yes, this assessment freeze to just the level of inflation each year, IS a nightmare to school boards, and county commissioner too, and well it should be. Its time for property owners to get relief from the nightmare of ever increasing property taxes, in the order of 10-25% per year, almost entirely due to re-assessments. But seriously, again, as we've seen just over in Dade county, where an assessment freeze has been in place for over 20 years, the school is still functioning well, and county students are still getting educated. Governing officials should be forced to spend more wisely. This point, as with some others, are a scare tactic.
Finally, point 11 shows even better reason to vote for Amendment 1. The language in the underlying legislation, HB 581, allows local governments to "opt-out" of implementing the law, and instead put in place more targeting home-owner relief in various forms. So, no one is being forced to do anything.
I don't see any valid reason to vote against Amendment 1. Hey, vote your wallet, make our overlords sweat a little, and vote Yes on Amendment 1 this election year!
Fair counter. Also, point 5 is like the 13th floor in some hotels.