The City of Decatur just provided this release from Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett…

On Tuesday, March 8, 2016 four of the five City of Decatur’s homestead tax exemption bills passed the Georgia House of Representatives.  With the previous adoption by the Georgia Senate on February 11, 2016, those four separate pieces of legislation will move forward for the Governor’s signature.  However, SB 343 that provided the most significant tax relief from school taxes to citizens 65 and older has been delayed to a later date upon a motion by Representative Beth Beskin of Fulton County.

Representative Mary Margaret Oliver who represents part of the City of Decatur challenged the motion arguing that Rep. Beskin’s efforts to punish Decatur’s older citizens based on Atlanta’s refusal to grant similar relief to seniors was pure partisan politics.  “I am hopeful we will be able to get over the partisan obstacle created solely by Representative Beskin. I believe the Republican leadership will ultimately be supportive of local control to support the success of the Decatur school system and good management,” said Rep. Oliver.  Rep. Beskin stated to Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett that her motion to table had nothing to do with Decatur or the legislation itself.

“The City of Decatur and the City Schools of Decatur appreciate all of the efforts of Decatur legislators who have worked hard to get these bills passed including Senator Elena Parent and Representatives Mary Margaret Oliver, Howard Mosby, Rahn Mayo and Karla Drenner,” said Mayor Garrett.  “Our delegation members understand the need for property tax relief, particularly for our seniors, and I hope the Republican leadership will also understand our position and consider the merits and value to the citizens of Decatur of the senior homestead tax exemptions.”  The homestead exemption legislation was supported by the Decatur City Commission and the Decatur Board of Education who were acting with the support of the residents of the City of Decatur, including members of the Lifelong Community Advisory Board, a very active group of senior homeowners and the business community.

“It is unsettling that legislation designed by Decatur’s elected officials for the benefit of Decatur’s senior citizens, that would have no impact on anyone other than Decatur residents, has been met with opposition,” said Board of Education Chair Annie Caiola, who added, “We encourage our residents to join us in voicing these sentiments to the Republican leadership. This also happened last year when Decatur’s proposed senior exemptions failed in the eleventh hour due to similar unprecedented maneuvers.  It is our sincere hope that CSD’s homestead exemption legislation will be quickly put back on track to pass.”

To voice your opinion about the City Schools of Decatur homestead exemption, please contact Rep. Beth Beskin ([email protected] ); Rep. Jan Tankersley ([email protected] );  Rep. Jon Burns ([email protected] ); Rep. Matt Ramsey ([email protected] );  Speaker of the House David Ralston ([email protected] ); and, copy Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver ([email protected] ).

Make sure they know that SB 343 would provide tax relief to senior property owners and that it is local legislation supported by the City Schools of Decatur, the Decatur City Commission and all of the members of the General Assembly that represent the City of Decatur.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

From Mayor Patti Garrett’s blog, here are the details for tomorrow night’s “State of the City” Address…

Tuesday, Jan. 26, 5:15-7 pm
Courtyard Marriott Hotel / Decatur Conference Center
130 Clairemont Ave. 

Annual State of the City address. 

Special guest Natasha Trethewey, former US Poet Laureate and Emory Robert W. Woodruff Professor of English and Creative Writing, will also be present to read the occasional poem she wrote for the tenth anniversary of the Decatur Book Festival in 2015.

Newly elected City Schools of Decatur chair, Annie Caiola, will also make some brief remarks about the upcoming school year as well.

Plus, enjoy refreshments, networking and announcements.

After we learned a few more details yesterday of the partial Decatur annexation legislation submitted by Georgia State Rep. Karla Drenner on Monday, we followed up for reaction from the Decatur City Commission to get their thoughts on the partial annexation and the new inclusion of the neighboring residential neighborhood of Decatur Terrace.

Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett responded this morning…

A lot is happening with our legislative agenda, and decisions are being made very quickly.
We did not have the option of moving forward with our overall map and plan.
The map that is before the legislature now has a great deal of commercial and is a large part of what we set out to annex.
Going forward we will see where we are at the end of this legislative session and determine how we will move forward with the rest of the plan. An updated annexation master plan report will be available after the session is over.

Commissioner Patti Garrett echoed the Mayor’s statements and emphasized that “we were unable to move forward with our original map but still have a significant amount of commercial property included and Representative Drenner requested the addition of Decatur Terrace.”  She added “I think we have all been made keenly aware that the legislative process for getting annexation considered is a complicated and complex process.”

I’m going to see if its possible to get a commercial/residential breakdown of the current partial annexation area.  Stay tuned.

From Decatur City Commissioner Patti Garrett’s blog…

We are continuing to work with our DeKalb County legislators to get the following increases and changes in our homestead exemptions that were part of a Resolution the City Commission passed in December 2014 (These would apply to the City tax portion of your tax bill):

1. Amend 1981 GA Laws, pg. 1,914 to increase the General Homestead Exemption for all residential owner-occupied properties from $20,000 to $25,000; and,

2. Amend 1986 GA Laws, pg. 4,475 to Increase the General Homestead Exemption for residential owner-occupied properties for persons 65 years of age or older from $1,000 to $10,000; and,

3. Create a General Homestead Exemption for residential owner-occupied properties for persons 62 years of age or older whose household income does not exceed $50,000 in the amount of $15,000.

From Commissioner Patti Garrett’s blog…

The City of Decatur and Dekalb County have 2,100 homeless school age children and their families who are in need this winter. We are asking for your help to assist individuals in need this season. Please donate non-expired food items or a winter coat. The City of Decatur Fire Department will be collecting items until December 19.  All items will go to Decatur Cooperative Ministries as they help families who face homelessness settle into safe, stable homes.

DCM offers comprehensive services helping to prevent, endure, and overcome homelessness. Drop off items at either of the City of Decatur Fire Stations (230 East Trinity Place or 356 West Hill St.), the Decatur Recreation Center (231 Sycamore St.), or City Hall (509 N. McDonough St.).

For more information you may call Captain Violante at 678-553-6583 or Decatur Cooperative Ministries at 404-377-5365.

Also on tonight’s Commission meeting agenda is a vote to move the Unified Development Ordinance process into “Phase II” by approving entering into an agreement with local planning firm TSW.  In a recent email blast, Commissioner Patti Garrett listed out the topics of the coming “Input Meetings” and when they’re occur…

Our next steps are community input meetings regarding the following areas of our ordinance updates:
Hack the Code:  Community Character, Mar 12
Hack the Code:  Stormwater, Mar 26
Hack the Code:  Sustainability, April 16
Hack the Code:  Zoning Districts, April 23

Be sure to read the March Focus for descriptions of each of these 4 areas as well as other ways to participate in addition to community workshops.

At the conclusion of tonight’s meeting, the Decatur City Commission unanimously voted to postpone a vote on changes to the tree ordinance, which they had previously said would be taken up for a final vote at the beginning of March.

Commissioner Patti Garrett, who proposed the motion to delay the vote, also added that the City Commission would hold a work session on the original vote day in March as the next step forward.

In related news, the commission also voted unanimously to declare February 21st Arbor Day in Decatur.