Local & State Headlines

Homestead relief at risk

• Dougherty County Commissioners get an update on the proposed East Albany Wal- Mart project.

Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — About that state Homeowners Tax Relief Grant that will cut the tax bills of some 12,000 Dougherty County taxpayers’ — of the 15,421 who filed for homestead exemptions — by roughly $318 this year ... don’t be in a big hurry to spend that extra money.

Dougherty County Tax Director Denver Hooten informed county commissioners during their work session Monday morning that Gov. Sonny Perdue is contemplating rescinding the measure in light of the fiscal crunch that has hit the state.

“This has serious implications on your ’08-’09 budget,” Hooten told commissioners. “If the state decides not to honor this grant, that’s going to amount to $1.4 million in the county and $252,000 in the special tax district. We’ll have to send out a separate tax bill to the taxpayers who are affected, and that will cost an additional $9,000 to $10,000 in unbudgeted funds.”

While the forewarning on the tax matter became a necessity as the governor contemplated money-saving measures for the cash-strapped state, one of the co-sponsors of the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant legislation said he didn’t expect the credit to be taken from taxpayers.

“We granted everyone and his cousin tax breaks last year, so I would expect some of those issues would be addressed before we looked at putting the burden on the back of the taxpayer,” House District 150 Rep. Winfred Dukes, D-Albany, said. “I really don’t see this (rescinding the tax credit) happening.”

That doesn’t mean, however, that it can’t happen.

“The governor has said he’s contemplating such a move, so it could take place,” Dukes said. “He could call the (state) Fiscal Affairs Committee together to address a budget matter like this, so it’s possible. But frankly, it’s not very probable.

“Such a move could do to the state Republican Party what the Bush administration has done to the national Republican Party.”

Dougherty commissioners, meanwhile, expressed concern that local taxpayers would blame them if the “extra” tax bill is mailed out after the Dec. 20 tax deadline.

“The people here need to know if there is an increase in taxes, it will be coming from the state, not the county, the city or the School Board,” Commissioner Jack Stone said. “When the bill comes from us, a lot of them are going to assume we’re taxing them.”

Hooten said a notice that recognizes the governor and the General Assembly for the Homeowners Tax Relief credit must be sent with all tax bills, even though the state has said that honoring the grant will depend on tax collections.

“I would think that certainly the reverse of that would be the case; if the credit is rescinded the taxpayers should know that that would come from the state,” she said. “This could have a direct impact on a lot of people.”

Commission Chair Jeff Sinyard did offer a ray of hope.

“If (the credit) is not rescinded, it becomes a moot point,” he said. “I hope that’s what we’ll see.”

Also during the meeting, city/county Planning director Howard Brown gave commissioners an update on negotiations concerning the proposed East Albany Wal-Mart project. Brown told commissioners the lone holdup on the project is some $800,000 in road improvements. The Albany City Commission tentatively approved paying its share of the cost ($496,563) during a work session last week.

“In no time flat, the money they’re asking us to put in ($304,344) will come back to the taxpayers,” Stone said.

Commissioners also heard a request for “from $8,000 to $15,000” from Dougherty Tax Assessors Board Chairman Bill Ashberry for a system that will incorporate the income approach for tax assessment that is used to determine the fair market value of properties like apartment complexes.

“It’s difficult to do because no new apartments have been built in Albany in the last 15 years, and none of the existing complexes have changed hands,” Ashberry said.

Flint RiverQuarium Executive Director Scott Loehr updated commissioners on the aquarium’s vision and progress on the aviary, which is undergoing a final inspection; the commission saw a rough draft of a resolution supporting the four-laning of State Highway 133 from Albany to Valdosta; and Public Works Director Larry Cook recommended approval of a list of roads (including sections of County Line, Thomas and Calvary roads, Morgan Street and Morgan Court) to be submitted to the state Department of Transportation for repair.

Also, commissioners discussed a requested $10,500 to supply the multijurisdictional SWAT team, considered applicants for seats on the Department of Family and Children Services board and joined Dougherty Police Chief Don Cheek in honoring Det. Sgt. Danny Ball, Det. Calvin Cleveland, Officer Jeremiah Fenn, Senior Clerk Alanda Webb and Clerk/ Dispatcher Wanda Thompson for their work during the recent National Night Out celebration.

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