Fran Millar on homestead exemption county referendum

DeKalb Neighbor, Letter to the Editor, 10/25/06

Vote yes on homestead exemption

Editor:

I urge you to vote Yes on the item county referendum-DeKalb County Homestead Exemption on Nov. 7. This legislation freezes the value of your home for county tax purposes by increasing the homestead exemption until the house is sold. It does not apply to school tax and will be subject to renewal after a five year period.

This bill passed the Georgia House of Representatives 149-0 and it passed the Georgia Senate 42-4.

Government officials have estimated the tax freeze will cost DeKalb County government $4.4 million.

However, CEO Vernon Jones has promised to implement impact fees for new construction and the impact fees are expected to generate $8 million in new revenue. The CEO and county commissioners have no basis to increase the millage rate.

Twenty-nine other Georgia counties now have some type of floating homestead exemption that have not been approved by voters.

It is time to eliminate back door tax increases in DeKalb County. If CEO Jones and county commissioners want to raise your taxes they can no longer hide behind the assessment process.

Vote yes on the item county referendum-DeKalb County Homestead Exemption and show your support for open government.

Fran Millar

State Sen. District 79

(R-Dunwoody)