Tax Commissioner Don Elrod says homeowners with homestead exemptions should brace themselves for additional property taxes this year and the next.
The state homestead tax relief grant that funded an increased homestead exemption for homeowners for the last several years will not be available this year. Declining state revenues during the current recession means there is no money for the state to give the tax relief to homeowners with homestead exemption, said Elrod.
Elrod: County taxes to rise over two years
This will mean a property tax increase of $225 to $260 on the 2009 tax bills for many Jackson County homeowners.
The grant appropriated by the General Assembly and the governor for the last several years to counties, cities and schools had given tax relief to homeowners in the form of a credit on their tax bills. According to legislation passed this year (House Bill 143), the grant will only be made available in the future if state revenues grow at least three percent plus the rate of inflation.
Elrod encourages homeowners to prepare for the increase now before tax bills are issued later this year.
“It’s unfortunate in slow economic times to have to deliver this message, but homeowners need to know now so they can plan accordingly with their household budgets or make sure that tax escrows are properly funded with their mortgage companies to handle the tax increase,” Elrod said.
The grant appropriated by the General Assembly and the governor for the last several years to counties, cities and schools had given tax relief to homeowners in the form of a credit on their tax bills. According to legislation passed this year (House Bill 143), the grant will only be made available in the future if state revenues grow at least three percent plus the rate of inflation.
Elrod encourages homeowners to prepare for the increase now before tax bills are issued later this year.
“It’s unfortunate in slow economic times to have to deliver this message, but homeowners need to know now so they can plan accordingly with their household budgets or make sure that tax escrows are properly funded with their mortgage companies to handle the tax increase,” Elrod said.
It's time for the county to implement some rational cost-cutting! Like the rest of us!
No tax increase during a recession!
I used to believe that increasing the tax burden decreased economic growth. And I believed that when the tax burden increased, employment decreased. And I believed that increased crude oil cost had the same effect as raising taxes. You and I gotta get modern, Mike. That was then; this is now.
Now you can increase taxes in a recession if you lay them on the right people. And by the right people I mean higher-income families. See, higher-income families don’t spend all their income, so there is a little left over, maybe something to save. That little bit left over is available for taxes. In the short run, tax increases placed upon higher-income families are the least damaging source of revenue when the government needs money.
Just take comfort in knowing that if your taxes increase, you must be a higher-income family.
What we need, and are not getting, is restraint in the insane government spending.
Lower taxes do increase economic activity. That is Economics 101. That's not old school. That's truth.
The government can only provide jobs until the money runs out. And it really is running out rapidly.
Even though your talking about income taxes, you really need to WAKE UP. Take some responsibility for your own actions and decisions you've made in life to get where you are.
So if i work hard getting an education (whether formally or not) and work hard daily to make a decent salary which you consider to be higher income, I should have to pay more taxes?
I just don't get it? I work hard and have to pay for other people to get handouts so they can sit on their but. Just great.
Additionally, maybe the reason there is leftover money in our budgets, is b/c we are disciplined enough to actually have a budget and live within our means.
Don't spend more than you make and you won't have a problem! Quit making other people pay for your shortcomings.
Oh, by the way... when I say 'you'. I mean everyone who is thinking the same as your comment above.
officials are criminals in my opinion... We need the
FAIR TAX!!! Do away with this property tax and make
a sales tax, A sales tax everyone would pay for the
services provided in this county and even the people
here illegally would be paying. This would be better
long term also because the property owners wouldn't
be penalized for wanting to own land and keep it up.
Our corrupt tax system now you plant a flower and bam
your property value just went up!!!
I am almost daily in my car driving to Athens or Gwinnett to enjoy the many city parks, teen library programs, city cultural centers, and city ran community theaters.
I assumed these cities paid way more taxes than I do and that's why they have all these things for the public!?
I do a lot here too and am thankful for the city track, tennis courts, pool, rec dept.,and the schools!
If we pay more.... then it's time to pay for a community theatre and other cultural activities. Then also improve and add onto our sports/rec/parks!
It would be nice for the families traveling daily to other cities to stay here and spend here.
Outings often involve lunch/errands/shopping/gasoline. Why not keep that money local?
Mike
BTW, "taxpayers" are the ones who vote in and out our county commissioners, maybe it's time for the "Good ol' boy system" to be eliminated!
Mike