Mayor, city consider tax rebate

ALBANY — Albany Mayor Willie Adams told his fellow commissioners Tuesday that he had asked the city attorney and the legal counsel for the Georgia Municipal Association to determine whether it would be legal to give a one-time tax rebate to those in the city equal to the state’s homestead exemption grant that is not being funded this year.

In a cost-cutting measure earlier this year, the state decided to remove the grant, which amounts to about $300 for most homeowners.

At the meeting, Adams said that he had asked City Attorney Nathan Davis to research the idea of pursuing the tax rebates — which he estimated would cost roughly $850,000 — because early financial information suggests that the city is doing better than expected.

“Since things are brighter than expected, we may need to look at doing something with the millage rate or providing a rebate of sorts to the taxpayers,” Adams said.

Davis has entered a legal opinion that the move would not be legal under Georgia law because the city’s coffers consist of more than just money contributed by property taxpayers.

Undaunted, the mayor said he is consulting with officials at the Georgia Municipal Association to see if there is a way to provide some type of tax relief quicker than waiting until next year’s budget cycle and rolling the millage rate back.