Last year’s assessment at “fair market value” — $527,400. This year’s assessment at “fair market value” — $589,600. Percentage increase: 11.8%. Total tax burden: $6934.18.
The total increase in assessment over the last two years comes to just over $100,000 with absolutely no capital improvement on the property.
While one should be pleased that someone, somewhere is of the opinion that one’s property is significantly worth more than what was initially paid for, that pleasure is muted by the exorbitant tax burden being placed on the county residents by both the Board of Education (BOE) and the county. The BOE has two millage lines while currently enjoying the tax dollars of an existing SPLOST. The county has one millage line and is now enjoying the tax dollars flowing in from a recently added SPLOST. Mind you, the BOE has already stated they intend to seek a new SPLOST when the current one expires in 2019.
There are two solutions to provide some relief for the citizens of Fayette County, particularly the senior citizens on a fixed income. 1. Decrease the millage rates across each taxing authority by 12%. 2. Exempt all retired citizens from all annual property tax increases.
Whether it is city, local, county, state or federal officials, there is no end to the never ending quest for additional revenue. At all levels there is little desire to live within any normal level of funding. Of course roads need repaving, culverts need replacing and buildings need new roofs. That is the cry when politicians are presented with funding “needs.” And of course the solution is not to find the monies for such projects in existing budgets, they instead raise assessments while keeping millage rates the same and ask for more monies through additional SPLOSTs.
Is there not anyone in government that knows anything about facility management? If you build it, one must maintain it. That requires dollars. Normal facility maintenance is an integral part of every budget. Why is it always left out of every annual budget until the need is so great, the SPLOST is the only solution?
The wife and I just spent a lovely week in the Colorado high country. Such a lovely part of the country. What stunned us when looking at county properties in southern Colorado, the tax burden for properties at values commensurate with ours in Fayette County, the property tax burden was one-tenth of the tax burden on Fayette County residents.
Those type of tax differences leads citizens to make decisions to move. Now if we can just find anyone to give us the money the county says our property is worth, we will start packing the truck the next day.
Jack F. Smith
Fayette County resident
