Thursday, April 23, 2009
News Any leftover tea bags?
Posted by Andisheh Nouraee on Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 3:47 PM
If any of you local tea partiers have any leftover Lipton, I've got a new target for your leafy discontent.
DeKalb County just raised property taxes without telling anyone.
The AJC reported yesterday that the DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department refuses to lower property appraisals to reflect the sharply declining market value of much of the county's real estate. Georgia law requires county tax assessors to appraise property at its fair market value.
The Appraisal Department's decision is a de facto property tax increase.
Property tax bills in DeKalb are calculated by taking the property's assessed value, multiplying it by 40 percent, then multiplying it by the tax rate (a.k.a the millage, or mil rate):
By assessing the market value artificially (arguably illegally) high, the county is attempting to keep your property tax bill from dropping without the political hassle of having the county's elected leaders voting for a property tax rate increase.
DeKalb County leaders are correct to worry about plummeting tax revenue. Schools, cops, Range Rovers don't pay for themselves.
But keeping tax revenue steady by issuing bogus assessments is dishonest and, quite possibly illegal.
If the county wants money, they need to ask for it the old-fashioned way, by arguing for a straight-forward tax rate increase in a public forum.
If anyone wants to have a miniature tea party protest outside the DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department, I've got a thermos, sugarcubes, and a beautiful tea set given to me by CL food critic Besha Rodell as a wedding gift.
We can sip, say 'tyranny' a lot, and when county employees walk by, we can extend our pinkies with genteel disgust.
Comments (6)
Showing 1-6 of 6
My property value actually went up! I must be much savier of a home buyer than i thought i was.
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I will join you in the DeKalb tea party. I will bring the folding chairs and some scones, maybe some finger sandwiches, if you'd like. Before a quick second read, I thought we would be hollering, "Tranny!" Also a good option.
Does Burrell Ellis have any authority of the tax assessor? If so, he should be ashamed for letting this happen. To say that property values have remained constant over the last year is a joke.
The board of assessors is appointed by the county commission and the chief appraiser is appointed by the board. https://dklbweb.dekalbga.org/TaxAssessor/faq.asp#3
I strongly recommend that everyone check their tax info on the DeKalb property tax website. Not only did my 1948, 1000 sq. ft. modest home show +$35k assessment increase for 2009, but they increased my taxes for 2008 as well! I had paid my taxes in full on Dec. 19, verified my zero balance on the site, but now find that I owe an additional $425! They can't do this, can they?
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