Decatur Annexation Public Hearing Tonight
Decatur Metro | December 1, 2008 | 9:47 amJust a reminder that tonight is the city commission’s public hearing on annexation – 7:30p at City Hall.
In addition to the online Open Forum, this is the time and place for the public to be heard by the commission on the annexation issue.
In lieu of the hearing, MyATL Tv chimes in with a poorly formatted article on the issue. Also they provide confusing quotes from the mayor and follow up with little context. Enjoy!
A lot has changed in the past year since the city first started going through the public process of looking at annexation. Back then I stated that communication with the school board seemed to be crucial to the success or failure of this initiative. Now the data provided by Rosser through the school board to the commission seems to have problems because no one caught that Rosser’s projections hadn’t been expanded with the annexation map.
I get that the city commission is trying to stay ahead of imminiant tax hikes due to rising costs, (around 2/3 of respondents to my unofficial survey said taxes were a concern to them), but with this latest hiccup in the form of inaccurate student projections, perhaps we need to take a step back and reevaluate before going forward with this idea. If I was a commission member, I’d be really hesitant to support any sort of annexation plan where projections that affect 60% of my expendatures were still uncertain.
Can we just call this issue the “Decatur bailout?” That’s what it is — rather than increasing millage to pay for the government Decatur has chosen, the annexation proponents want a lot of other people to pay, whether they like it or not. It might be better for Mayor Campbell to just call Hank Paulson and see if any TARP funds are available.
I also wonder if the folks in charge would now admit that the square/MARTA renovation was a major mistake. $5 million for a project that, while making marginal asthetic improvements, was hardly a necessity. That $5 million would fund this year’s projected budget shortfall and next year’s, too, I believe. Is this not a “crisis” of Decatur’s own making?
I’d also point out that the very valid points made here about the lousy projections at the heart of this debate undermine the pro-annexation argument — that those annexed will get their money’s worth in wonderful city services — at a very fundamental level. If I can’t trust the City to get the basic facts about annexation right in the first place, why would I want to trust them with my money? Slipshod projections only expose this for what it is: a short-term money grab by a city government that is in over its head.
Yup. But that fountain and the blue lights are lovely!
I don’t want to dampen any fun rhetoric with intrusive facts, but wasn’t the MARTA renovation paid for with an ARC grant? How did that contribute to our current situation?
The MARTA plaza was in fact paid for by an ARC grant that was part State, part Federal, with the City providing, I think, a 10% match. The streetscape improvements have also been done on a matching grant basis. And improvements in other areas, like Public Safety, have been done with grants.
I stand corrected re: the MARTA construction. Looks like the local match was $600k, which is not exactly nothing.
NO ANNEXATION……………………….PERIOD !
A big NO on annexation. They tried in 1958 (or there about) and failed. We can stop them again.
Where can we get yard signs? “Vote No skyscrapers, no annexation, no kids, no chain restaurants, no non-gift shops, no McMansions (aka homes bigger than mine), no dogs/cars, no trains or distant train sounds, no r60 or k5, but mo arts education in schools, mo gift shops, mo taxes (for homes bigger than mine), mo level sidewalks, and mo cats.”
I live in Midway Woods, and I must say that I’m quite satisfied with Dekalb County police and fire service, along with trash, recycling, and the many other services we enjoy in Dekalb County without paying 2.5 to 3 times more in taxes if we are annexed.
Also, a FAIR polling should be done of the citizens in Midway Woods, et.al.. I do not believe that 50% want annexation; not if given correct, up to date FACTS of how it will affect their taxes! Intelligent citizens know that polls can be designed in such a way to get biased results. Here’s an idea: People that are pro or con annexation should not be writing the polling questions; conflict of interest! It should be done by an outside source.
And, for all your political sakes, get your statistics up to date. THEN furnish all citizens with current data that can be used to make informed decisions.
Please, and thank you.
Does anyone have a rundown on how the meeting played out?
Shouldn’t there be some type of vote or survey that polls citizens living in city of Decatur and proposed annexation areas? Or is this completely in the hands of commissioners?
Git yer survey on:
http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citygov_opencityhall.aspx?pd_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peakdemocracy.com%2Fportals%2F49%2FForum_78%2FIssue_198
writerchad, you can go to the city website and voice your opinion on the Open City Hall thing. I hope they are paying close attention to what people are saying over there.
I must say that I’m quite satisfied with Dekalb County police and fire service, along with trash, recycling, and the many other services we enjoy in Dekalb County without paying 2.5 to 3 times more in taxes if we are annexed.
I appreciate your satisfaction with Dekalb services and your desire to not pay more taxes to live in the city of Decatur, but, please, don’t tell me that your total tax bill is going to be raised 2-3 times if you are annexed. That is just simply not true.
Is there a website to see what my Decatur taxes would be based on my house’s current appraisal?
AMB,
You can figure it out on the city’s web site here:
http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_atr_taxesandfees.aspx
I think that the real misconception is that if you live in the City of Decatur not only do you have to pay new taxes for Decatur municipal services and schools, but also would continue to pay taxes for Dekalb schools. That is just not true. Decatur residents do not pay Dekalb school taxes. We only pay a fairly small amount for county roads, bonds, Grady, etc.
I’m not advocating for or against annexation, but I wish that this misconception would be cleared up.
Here is a breakdown of taxes depending upon where you live in Dekalb County: https://dklbweb.dekalbga.org/taxcommissioner/pdf/Millage.pdf
You are taxed at the millage rate (xx.xx per $1,000 of property value) on the first 40% of you property value (not factoring in exemptions like the homestead).
So if you live in unincorporated Dekalb the millage rate is 39.30 and your property taxes per $100,000 of property value would be $1,572.
If you lived in City of Decatur the millage rate is 46.69 and your property taxes per $100,000 of property value would be $1,867.60.
So, your taxes in Decatur vs. unincorporated Dekalb might be $295.60 higher per $100,000 in property value (not including exemptions). While it is definately more tax, it is not anywhere near 2.5 to 3 times the amount of tax.
For me, the extra money is worth it for Decatur services, for you it may not, but stop misrepresenting the amount of tax increases you would be subject to.
Play with your tax number at this website
http://midwaywoods.freephphostonline.com/
or download the excel file called “Tax Cal”.
I played with mine and it went up about 900.00 but I have freeze on my assessment but “City of Decatur” does not freeze property assessment.
Does anyone see a huge error in that table? Appraised value was supposed to be $200,000 but values are calculated on $100,000.
Taxes are based on Assessed Value, which is 50% of Appraised Value. More so if you’ve filed a Decatur Homestead Exemption.
You do understand that a house appraised at 200,000 are assessed at 0.50 for “city of decatur” and assessed at 0.40 for “Dekalb County” before the taxes mils are calculated.
If you do not understand the table you might want to look-up your take bill and study how they computer your taxes per year. There is button called “Dekalb Property Assessment” for looking up your tax will for your property in “Dekalb County”.
So maybe my math is a little off, but under no circumstances would you taxes be raised 2.5 to 3 times what you are paying in unincorporated, right?
Nobody told me there would be math in blogging…
If my numbers are correct, my taxes would go up at least $1000 a year. Not a small number at all to me.
And exactly what better services can I expect for my extra taxes? I have no children in school. The fire station is further away than the DeKalb one. And what happens if there is more than 1 fire in the city?
And as far as small government being more responsive, if all the residents in the proposed areas had been officially notified by letter about the proposal, the process had been more transparent, and the opportunity to vote on the proposal been put forward, then I would think the City had my best interests at heart.
Instead, this looks more and more like a revenue grab.
Not saying that you should be in favor of it AMB, if I were you I may not either, and, no, $1,000 is not a small number.
My only point is that if you are going to be against it because of increased taxes, then at least tell me the truth about what the increase in taxes will actually be. Your bill might be increased 20% – not 250-300% as wfb tried to cliam.
Lets say that my property is appraised at $190,000 in “Dekalb County” and frozen
but my “city of Decatur” appraised value is $250,000 because “city of Decatur” does NOT freeze appraised property values then I would be paying an extra $2060 a year.
City Taxes
County Taxes
Total Extra
4162.29
–   
2103.60
= 2058.69
My property taxes will double with annexation, costing me more than $5,000 a year. This is a fact because I own property inside the city limits and outside the city limits. I see my bills, it’s not a 20% difference. If we wanted the City’s services we would live inside the City limits. We have excellent services in Dekalb County. Raising my taxes means I won’t have extra money to shop, eat and enjoy the spa services in the City of Decatur. Many of us can afford to frequent the businesses in Decatur now. With Annexation, that will change dramatically. There is only so much money to go around. The City Commissioners should learn to balance their own books instead of looking for us to bail them out.
Where we live has always been part of the city, but I wish that we could get un-annexed from the city of Decatur. We are absolutely fed up with this city
I sure know what it feels like to be fed up…except its with vague, gripey comments. Is that just as valid?
Hey, Dedogur. If you want to leave it is within your power … sell your house and move. Decatur is one of the few places in Metro Atlanta where property values are holding steady or increasing, so you should have no problem selling your house and property values elsewhere are in decline, so you should be able to get a great deal outside of Decatur.
Go for it!
Well, Midway Woods’ calculator to determine City of Decatur taxes is off. I entered my home value. The calculator said my taxes would be $8700 and change. Last year I paid over $10,000 in City of Decatur and DeKalb taxes… and yes, I have both homestead exemptions. Maybe Rosser designed the calculator.
Decatur Metro–it is a vague gripey comment, I’ll admit that. And it has more to do with having a bad day yesterday than it does with Decatur. I withdraw my request for a single lot de-annexation.
Decaturguy–want to buy a house? It’s a good house and we love living here. The only problem with it is taxes. Decatur/Dekalb’s new “assessed” value is almost twice that of it’s market value, and apparently there’s nothing anyone can do about it. It’s made for a difficult holiday season as our family tries to figure out how to handle this new surprise of a tax bill. Good timing with the economy and all too.
No problem dedogur. I’ve had a few of those lately myself.
Decatur/Dekalb’s new “assessed” value is almost twice that of it’s market value, and apparently there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
If your appraised value is “almost twice” its market value, then you appeal it. It is quite frequently done. Shouldn’t be too hard to do. Find a recent sale in your neighborhood with comparable square footage to your house, show them that they have valued your house too much.
My house was recently on the market for 6 months. Not a single offer. And if being in Decatur increases home value, why did my agent emphasis low DeKalb taxes in their flyers?
Because someone unfamiliar with the area will be drawn to lower taxes when they don’t have knowledge of differences in level and quality of services. I’ll bet Clayton County taxes are even lower, but knowledgeable people probably wouldn’t want to live there. Remember the real estate mantra – location, location, location (it’s not taxes, taxes, taxes).
Good luck with appealing your tax appraisal. I still can’t get my house equalized with those of most of my neighbors who, in some cases, have more rooms, square footage, etc., and we have the same lot.
You can go to Dekalb Tax Commissioner page, type in your street and compare your taxes to everyone around you…you will be surprised, and not in a good way. It can be VERY arbitrary, and trying to get a clear answer from the “board” as to their reasoning is akin to asking a Magic 8 Ball.
well I’m really hoping we can get a resolution to the tax situation because it’s going to force us to have to sell after 7 years on Decatur. And I seriously doubt that we could even get even 30% of our appraised value in this market. I have no desire to sell and we will fight this greed and corruption with everything we have.
dedogur, “corruption” is pretty strong. Would you care to cite specifics?
Steve, government taxing a home well above and beyond it’s value certainly seems corrupt. To the recipient of a tax bill, there is a feeling of the numbers being focused on the needs of the tax collector rather than reality of the market. This seems to be happening to a lot of people, and not just in Decatur either. But the term is admittedly too strong, and based on emotion rather than reality. I don’t actually believe it is the result of greed and corruption. It’s the result of a real estate market in limbo, with a huge gray area of what actual values are. Certainly a tough job for appraisers. But I think it’s inappropriate for property appraisals to be based on the maximum value something would be worth in perfect and bubbly real estate market.
I live in a neighborhood (Emory Garden Condominiums-Zone 1
on map) which is home to many young families, immigrants, and others
that are currently living within their means. The tax increase brought
about by annexation would displace many of these people as they simply
could not afford to pay. If annexed, these people would have the choice
of not being able to pay the tax, the mortgage, or a portion of both.
Either way, they would most likely end up losing their home. I suppose,
however, if they choose to work 60-70 hours a week they could stay but
lose their quality of life. With the current economic climate, the
first scenario is more likely to happen.