Lower Your Property Taxes
1/31/2010

The budget took a back seat for a few hours this week, as I was able to spend time at the Capitol with second graders from Mt. Paran Christian School, and then attended the PTA's South Cobb event Thursday evening at Varner Elementary School. It is nice to be reminded that, to a seven year old, the best thing about the Capitol isn't the Gold Dome, or the Senate Chamber, and it certainly isn't a state senator. No, the best thing is the infamous two-headed snake that is part of the museum exhibit on the 4th floor! Those moments with children remind me why I ran for office, and are really what make being an elected official fun for me.
This week's newsletter looks at efforts by the Senate to save money, as well as property tax issues. As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve in the General Assembly.


Sincerely,

John Wiles

Senate Republicans Voluntarily Take Furlough Days through June


All Georgia State Senate Republicans are volunteering to take a furlough day a month for the remainder of the fiscal year. With these additional days, legislators will have taken a total of eleven furlough days in fiscal year 2010. The money will be returned to the State Treasury to help fill additional budget gaps.

"I want to thank each member of the Senate Republican Caucus for voluntarily signing the commitment to return portions of their salary back to the State. I'm proud to serve with my fellow Republicans that continue to put the State's needs before their own and who serve Georgians with core conservative values of less spending and less government," said Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock).

Legislators took one furlough day a month between August and December of 2009 and are now voluntarily agreeing to another day per month through the month of June. State Agencies have taken anywhere between 3 and 12 furlough days. The legislator furlough days will be in addition to the $3.08 million cut in appropriations the General Assembly voted to give itself in 2010 general budget, plus any potential further cuts that may be needed to balance the 2010 budget.

Senate leadership has worked diligently to balance the state budget by making the appropriate reductions in government spending and government programs. The General Assembly also returned $2.7 million in FY2009 surplus funds to the Treasury. This fiscal constraint has been noticed by the Bond rating agencies in New York, making Georgia one of only seven states to earn and maintain a Triple-A Bond rating. Georgia is one of the lowest taxed states in the nation and has the lowest dept per capita among the 50 states.


Lower Your Property Taxes

Your Assessed Value is Likely too High

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.

Is Your Home Over-Valued?

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.

Updating Your Tax Valuation

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.

Appealing Your Tax Valuation

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.

Forms and Deadlines

Cobb County - File by April 1, 2010





Cobb County Taxpayers Return of Real Property