Why are the same people continually appointed to county boards and committees?….. Why haven’t tax assessments values gone down significantly with the stagnant housing market? …… What is your individual thinking on courthouse expansion?

AVOC

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February 13, 2010

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Attend and speak up at Oconee Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 & take action to Lower Your Property Taxes

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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc

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Oconee County Citizens will have an opportunity to ask questions of Commissioners at the BOC Town Hall Meeting at the Civic Center – Feb 16, 2010- 7 to 9 PM.

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Ask the commissioners questions and seek substantive answers at Town Hall

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The meeting is billed as informal and an opportunity to question any or all of the commissioners.   Some questions that should be asked:

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1.         Why are the same people continually appointed to county boards and committees?  SEE - BOC Minutes 1-26-10; BOC Minutes 2-2-10; SEE Committee Listings and Members

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            Should some professions that work with the county be on boards related to their work area!?

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2.         Why haven’t tax assessments values gone down significantly with the stagnant housing market?   What budget reductions are in the future?

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3.         What is your individual thinking on courthouse expansion?   CITIZENS, do not let them avoid answering because the Land Use Committee is studying it!   Many question how real the Land Use Study is going to be.  

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SEE LEE BECKER’s Recent Posts on the Land Use Committee:

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Missing the Signs?
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As the Oconee County Land Use and Transportation Planning Committee continues its deliberations Tuesday about the future of the courthouse and the Board of Commissioners awaits the Committee’s report, 11.44 acres of land sit for sale literally at the courthouse doorstep………………………..

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Some Meetings Hard to Explain - Lee Becker – 2-12=10

http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/2010/02/oconee-county-land-use-committee-chair.html

LOWERING TAX VALUES AND TAXES:

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Tax Assessments are a hot subject around the state.   Real estate values are down as everyone knows.Yet, some area officials make it sound like Oconee is immune from the lower values.   Defunct subdivisions around the county and the short list of published real estate sales tell a different story.   Oconee Citizens should take steps to lower their assessments.   One feels the County Equalizers (appointed by the Grand Jury) may be more receptive than assessor staff that work with county officials and may be more sensitive to loss of revenue issues.   Revenue and assessments are separate subjects by law and need to be treated that way in practice.

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If one knows of lower sale values in one’s neighborhood, one should file a new tax return and start the process.   Following are some forms and information about the process.

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Forms and Deadlines 

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Oconee County Tax Commissioner

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In Oconee County the time for filing returns is January 1 through April 1.  These returns are filed with the Tax Assessor and forms are available in that office. The tax return is a listing of the property owned by the taxpayer and the taxpayer's declaration of the value of the property.

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Oconee County Tax Assessors Forms

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PROPERTY TAX RETURN

Lower Your Property Taxes – Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers 2-11-10

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Georgia Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers

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February 12, 2010

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Lower Your Property Taxes

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Your Assessed Value is Likely too High

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Your property tax is legally based on your home's fair market value, as determined periodically by the county Tax Assessor.  With the current economic downturn the market value of many homes has fallen; in some cases, substantially.  Because counties are not required to re-assess homes annually, the valuation assigned to your home may not reflect the current market.
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Is Your Home Over-Valued?

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For the most part, current market value of your home is reflected in the price at which homes comparable to yours have been recently selling.  If the tax assessor's fair market value is clearly greater than what you believe your home's actual value to be, you may act to update your valuation. 
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Updating Your Tax Valuation

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Changing your home's tax value begins with filing a Real Property Tax Return indicating what you believe the value of your home to be.  Filing a Real Property Return is not an appeal, it simply triggers a re-assessment of your property.  After the Tax Assessor has reviewed your proposed valuation and determined what, if any value adjustment to make, a Notice of Assessment will be mailed to you reflecting any changes in the county's valuation.  If you are satisfied with the re-assessed value, no further action on your part is required and your 2010 taxes will be based on the new valuation.  Value issues are often resolved by the Assessor accepting the value indicated on the Tax Return, or by an acceptable property re-assessment.
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Appealing Your Tax Valuation

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If you disagree with the value indicated in your Notice of Assessment, you will have the right to file an appeal.  It is at this point that you will want to gather and submit evidence supporting what you believe the value of your property to be.  Specific instruction (including deadlines) concerning the appeals process in your county will be included in the Notice of Assessment.

Property Tax Assessments –GA Senator Rogers-Overhaul – 2-5-10

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STATE SENATOR CHIP ROGERS WEBSITE

http://www.senatorchiprogers.com/news.html

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Feb. 1, 2010

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Senator Rogers Announces Major Overhaul of Georgia Property Tax System

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ATLANTA (Feb. 1, 2010) – Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) today announced a much-needed overhaul of Georgia’s property tax system. After collecting information and input from property owners, assessors and local governments, Rogers presented a property tax assessment and appeals reform bill with more than 40 changes to the tax system.

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“The collection of taxes should be fair, transparent, and easy to understand. Sadly, the property tax in Georgia accomplishes none of these things. This legislation attempts to bring fairness to an unfair system,” said Rogers.  “Georgians from all over the state created this legislation.  During my eight years I have never witnessed an issue where everyone agreed the current system is broken. We have had hundreds of suggestions for change. The more than 40 changes represented in this bill represent the will of the people and will bring needed relief to property owners.”

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Property values in Georgia have fallen drastically over the past few years.  Assessed values have not kept pace, resulting in property taxes for many property owners being artificially high.  Rogers created and chaired the Property Tax Assessment Committee to look into the issue.  Homeowners, business owners, tax assessors, and property lawyers testified to present the flaws, challenges and suggested solutions to the system.  As a result, Rogers worked with everyone in the industry and achieved bi-partisan support to overhaul Georgia’s property tax system.

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“Ultimately, the property tax must be eliminated. However, the political will for a complete and drastic repeal is not possible at this time. That sort of change takes place gradually and this is just the beginning,” said Rogers.

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