The City just released this statement from Mayor Jim Baskett regarding Decatur’s legislative efforts this session.
The City of Decatur is appreciative of the efforts of Representative Karla Drenner and State Senator Elena Parent to move forward with part of the overall Decatur Annexation Master Plan. Regretfully, HB 663 was not successful during the 2015 legislative session. It is our understanding that opposition from neighborhoods in the City of Atlanta annexation plan and concerns about potential lost revenue to the DeKalb County School System resulted in the bill not receiving consideration in the Georgia Senate. During the remainder of 2015, the Decatur City Commission will assess how, or if, we want to move forward on annexation issues in 2016.
In addition, the Decatur City Commission had also supported legislation to increase homestead exemptions for City of Decatur taxes. We are highly disappointed that property tax relief for our taxpayers, particularly for low and moderate income seniors was defeated in the Georgia House of Representatives. Adoption of the proposed legislation would have made a real difference in the lives of our seniors by providing over $1,100 of annual tax savings. The Decatur City Commission will try again in 2016 to secure reconsideration of the legislation by the General Assembly.
Why does the state legislature have to approve changes in a local tax law? Seems as though that should be the decision of the local government.
That’s a question for the Georgia Constitution.
Was this homestead tax relief for Seniors something that would be implemented for all Seniors in the State of Georgia, or just those within the City limits? I don’t understand.
Just Decatur.
I still don’t exactly understand. Was the City of Decatur asking for a higher homestead exemption than what the rest of Dekalb county homeowners would be able to claim?