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Polk County rethink your strategy
Jul 13, 2012 | 4664 views | 6 6 comments | 17 17 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Dear Editor,

The Polk County Tax Assessors were recently tasked to go out and reassess real property for the purpose of increasing revenues. The strategy being to increase appraised values, then the county commissioners and school board increase the millage rates on the increased values.

Of course, when this is presented to the board of commissioners, the school board, and the tax commissioner, the response is to basically deny this. However, those of us who lay our yearly tax bills down side by side can "connect the dots."

The citizens of Polk County who read this paper on a regular basis are familiar with and have read the discussions regarding revenue shortfalls in the school budget as well as the maintenance and operating budget.

To the average citizen, there is no clear evidence that there has been an increase in the number of school age children and there is no significant evidence that the county is spending additional money on maintenance and operating activities.

So, the question becomes, why is there a shortfall in revenue? Could it be that we have been in a recession for the past several years? Could it be that revenues are down because homes have been going into foreclosure? Could it be that homes have been sold for reduced prices?

Within my neighborhood, there are pieces of property that have been on the market for several years. There are also homes that have gone into foreclosure. I'm willing to bet that my neighborhood is typical of other areas in the county.

A search this week indicated that there are 270 homes in foreclosure in the county.

If the School Board, the County Commissioners and the Tax Commissioner continue with the strategy they appear to be following, the outcome will be more homes going into foreclosure and more short sales of homes.

That is a downward spiral that does not increase revenue but does the opposite.

I want to caution our county leaders that many of us do not have the option of increasing our revenue. Those that have jobs are lucky to be able to keep them. Many of the rest of us are on fixed incomes.

To increase the tax burden at this time is detrimental to the overall health and well being of this county.

Please rethink your strategy. Live within the income level that you have, just as the citizens must.



Mike Turner

Aragon
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Comments
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daone
|
October 07, 2012
The old guard has proven that they can't or wont do the JOB they were hired to do.. Yes being elected is being hired by the voter's . So here is a novel idea let's fire them and not re-elect a single one of em !! Should the newly elected not do the job then show them the door also ....
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tweetybird
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July 15, 2012
We also are on a fixed income and our property value increased in one year over $50,000 which is a joke,County went up so naturally did Aragon which makes it extremely difficult.Homes are foreclosed constantly around us, and some homes been foreclosed twice, wish I could sell out and move to another county, where at least I could see where the tax money goes, instead of just up in the air. Aragon keeps going up with nothing to show for higher taxes except a ladder fire truck for a volunteer fire dept. and there is no high buildings, I guess it is needed for for grown men to play with and show off, because if a house or building catches on fire, kiss it goodbye because I have not seen any houses saved, and as for the police dept, they give out tickets instead of looking out for the citizens. Last year Aragon gave hourly employees a 10% raise!!!!!!!!!!
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garrywb
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July 15, 2012
I doubt seriously that either the Board of Commissioners or Education prompted this reasessment. They can increase their tax receipts by merely increasing the milage rate. After all it is adjusted almost every year anyway. I had a reasessment and was told that it was prompted by the State of Georgia on a regular basis every few years for Polk County to keep its Digest in line with the rest of the State. I remember a few years back where Polk County came close to being forced into a percent (maybe 10%) increase in the Digest because it had fallen so far behind the rest of the State. In my reasessment I didnt not have to appeal, a personal visit to thier office was all it took and the errors we found in their evaluation was quickly fixed. As to why there is a shortfall in revenues by the Commissioners or School system, I too havnt got a clue and its hard to find out. I know there is a decrease in State and Federal Aid and unless it is just the economy, I dont know. But irregardless of where the money comes from (or doesnt) , it is the obligation of the Board of Education to properly provide for our kids. There is no excuse for not having enough textbooks or teachers.
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950ems
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October 03, 2012
You are exactly right. A review of the Ga Dept of Audits indicates the County tax digest was valued at 34% rather than the 40% required. THE COUNTY MUST by state mandate reassess to properly reflect the values as close to 40% as possible or be fined...pay tax dollars to the state. SO since it is a state mandate....rather than call the school board and tax commissioners contact the state legislators. They cut taxes at the state level and cause our local folks to have to raise the millage. Why doesn't Bill Heath show up at the millage hearings and realize just how much we APPRECIATE (LOL) how much he looks after Georgia rather than Polk County? Trey Kelley is going to fall right in behind him.
Lakecreek
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July 13, 2012
This article is so right. The way that the taxes were handled this year is just horrible. Everyone I know had their taxes increased and not by a small margin either. Our county government must get the house in order but raising taxes is not the way to do it. I am willing to bet they have more appeals this year than any other year previously. That has to tell you something.
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PolkCountyCitizen
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October 05, 2012
Hear this. Have you ever seen a position posted in the paper for any job openings withing the Polk School District, the Government of Polk County or the City of Cedartown. It is the Buddy system. I know for a fact, a retired person with a great retirement was hired to do janitoral work, sweeping, dusting some of the city buildings. Why not advertise that job and let someone who is not drawing a great retirement get the job so he/she can keep food on the table and the Tax man away. We need to rise up as a people against all this. Who told us to Vote for SPLOST or the signs said your Property Tax will go up. Don't people go to h... for telling lies. How do they sleep at night. Do they lose all common sense when they are elected. Remember this when you Vote in November
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