Comments on: Decatur Resident Wonders About DeKalb Tax Increase

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:06:34 +0000

I have a question….according to our 2011 bill, the combined (land + bldg) county appraisal value of our home hasn’t changed in the 3 years we’ve owned it. However, this years appraisal on the land increased 63% yet the building decreased by 68%. This is a townhouse that was built in June 2008. Is this common?

By: tax appeal Atlanta

tax appeal Atlanta — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:42:19 +0000

Dekalb is under a moratorium right now and they can’t increase the fair market values. In many areas of the county, values have dropped and even with the increase in the millage rate, folks are paying less this year than last year. I live in the C.O.D and my value has remained the same for years. I’ve never appealed it because it’s fair for tax purposes. However, there are plenty of errors in the assessor’s records and sometimes people should appeal their assessments.

By: billbor

billbor — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:46:12 +0000

Our valuation stayed constant (again), but we failed to challenge this before the July deadline. Guess we’re stuck with this inflated basis for 2 more years.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:37:59 +0000

It was done so that police were a separate item and could have their own distinct millage rate and not be under the general services umbrella. That way, if the county commission chose to cut the budget, they would have to cut the police budget as a separate, identifiable item. Although Decatur taxpayers don’t see it, county fire services have been done that way for a while now.

By: smalltowngal

smalltowngal — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:08:58 +0000

Right, that’s ringing a dim bell in my memory. Somehow, the tax discussions become so much more real once I have a bill in my hand!

Does anybody know where to find an itemization of “County Operations”? I did look quickly around the Tax Commissioner website while I was on hold, and didn’t see anything.