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School board hints at property tax relief for seniors

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Walter Geiger
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Monday, November 15. 2010
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The Lamar County Board of Education is considering granting additional ad valorem tax relief for property owners over age 70.

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#1 Anonymous on 11/15/10 at 06:32 PM
Its a start I guess
#2 Anonymous on 11/15/10 at 06:33 PM
tax relief.....i'm sure there is some kind of "fee" in the workings
#3 Pundit on 11/15/10 at 10:05 PM
Hopefully, they are smart about this so that Barnesville will not become a haven for people who no longer wish to pay property tax after a certain age.

(1) The person must have been a homeowner that paid property taxes for the last five years prior to turning 70 years of age.

(2) There should be a gradual three year rollback of property taxes beginning at age 70. Once the person reaches age 70, the elderly property owner will have an annual 1/3 deduction in property taxes so that by the time the person reaches age 73, the person will pay $0 in annual property taxes.

(3)If the elderly improves the home by building an addition onto the home or completing other value added improvements (besides basic upkeep) that would significantly increase the home's value, they should only be obligated to pay taxes on the assessed value of the improvement. If the house is worth 124K and improvements have been completed and the assessed value is now 130K, then property taxes should be paid on the 6K value increase and not the 130K new value. Basic upkeep such as paint, new siding, new windows, new roof, etc should all fall under basic upkeep. Improvements such as adding brick to a home whose value was assessed using siding; adding a new porch; adding a new level or an addition; enclosing a garage or carport, etc should fall under home improvement thus the elderly should pay taxes on the new value derived from the improvement and not basic upkeep.

(4) Homes that have been taken off of the property tax roll that are inherited by family members (once the individual dies or no longer physically resides in the home...i.e due to nursing home, making the home rental property, or inherited by a family member not meeting the age requirement for zero property taxes) must begin paying the property tax for the current assessed value of the home the following tax year.

This is just my two cents. This is a good thing if written and executed properly.
#4 Ron on 11/16/10 at 01:02 AM
Citizens hint there may not be a school board if they don't straighten out....how's that for a headline?
#5 Anonymous on 11/16/10 at 07:33 AM
Heard that our school board was one of the depositers at FNB who had more than the FDIC amount in an account- about $500,000 more. They should be kissing some UB a##. That is some fine fiscal management on the Board's part.....
#5.1 Anonymous on 11/16/10 at 12:30 PM
Good lord! Did they not know that anything over $250,000 was not covered by FDIC? If that is not STUPIDITY, I don't know what is- maybe the whole slew of them needs to be gone.
#6 Anonymous on 11/16/10 at 08:18 AM
Let's hope the Piedmont Green Power plant lasts longer than Greenco did
#7 Anonymous on 11/16/10 at 09:47 AM
I find this interesting that because if you’re not at least 70 yrs. old you will have to pay the taxes of those who are. You don’t really believe the school system is going to reduce the expenditures required to off set this reduction in tax base do you? Therefore, I or we will have to pay even more taxes to make up this difference. This, along with those who pay far less taxes because their property is in a 10 year land usage program reduces the tax base even more, therefore, we the middle class home owner will get the shaft yet again. What’s more interesting is the tremendous support of this type of tax relief is getting, even though, Georgia being a red state and this relief obviously being a socialist practice. Go figure….. With all that being said, I personally would still support this decision.
#8 H B on 11/16/10 at 12:43 PM
I do not believe the school tax should be more than the county tax on a property for anyone one. The school system has ratholed over 8 million and want more. I think that is their problem. They are so busy thowing money at problems instead of solving them. What they have ratholed tells you they are getting too much money from the local economy and may be a factor in retarding growth.
#9 solo on 11/16/10 at 01:41 PM
How about a break at age 65 or 66-retirement time. That's when income is drastically reduced for most seniors. #3 Pundit appears to have loan shark morality. His/her skinflint ideas suggests that a tax break be given but we should still sock it to the seniors whenever possible by setting up obstacles to improvements. And, to the school board-success is not measured by new buildings but by successfully educated graduates.
#10 Common cents on 11/17/10 at 06:17 PM
Why stop at seniors? How about tax relief for anyone without children, or parents with children in private schools? It's really quite simple - Do not have children if you cannot afford them. I work hard for my money and do not owe you anything. Put a stop to this and the economy will be well on its way to recovery. Please, no sob stories - McDonald's is hiring right now...
#10.1 Anonymous on 12/25/10 at 11:34 PM
Get rid of the tax for everyone. It obviousley don't do anything for the school system around here.
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