This letter is in reference to assessment freezes for county and school property taxes. I suggested any property tax payers to contact me on how to accomplish this. My cell phone number will be listed below.
There was also some mention of a bill that was passed in Dade County concerning school taxes. Dade County passed HB 302 to exempt anyone that is 65 years old and owns up to 5 acres from paying any school taxes.
This is one of those situations that the taxes would be passed on to younger taxpayers. This happens all the time with any exemptions.
I have been fighting this for seven years. The only other way I can fight it is to get as many counties possible to vote for these and other exemption to get our state government to realize how unfair these exemptions are.
It would be nice if Dade had a representative and senator who were willing to go out on a limb and fight to get all exemption stricken off the records. However, I know this would be difficult because they would rather leave things like they are and get re-elected than do what is right.
Since Martin Scott is retiring, maybe a new person would be willing to introduce a bill to change this. They would not want to do this because they might not get elected. Heaven forbid anyone doing something that would keep someone from be elected. When are we gong to get people elected that will do the right thing and let the election take care of itself?
Then we come to Jeff Mullis. I know there probably won’t be a photo op in doing something like introducing a bill to do away with all exemptions. By the way, if someone wants to check out all the exemptions that are available it would be nice if the newspapers would print them. I think a lot of people would be surprised as to how many there are.
These two exemptions mentioned above are killing the Dade County government and Dade County School System tax base. I know our new superintendent is aware of this. I am not sure if Dade County commissioners would admit in public that it is killing the county also. It might affect them getting re-elected if they came out in favor of doing away with these two exemptions.
This information is for Jeff Mullis to try and get him off his senatorial behind and sit down with our superintendent and Dade County commissioners to discuss ways to get rid of this injustice. I for one am not going to give up trying to get rid of these and other exemptions.
Justice David Nahmias ruled against me in November 2010. He blamed the exemption on the General Assembly for exemptions that are inconsistent with uniformity and equality in taxation of tangible property. If this is true then the General Assembly can fix it. Dade County should be allowed, if this is true, to vote on “if you are 65 and 5 acres not have to pay county taxes.” Then let Justice Nahmias rule on the exemption.
This is serious business. Walker County can and should be allowed to vote on at least these two exemptions. Jeff Mullis will then be put in a position to come forward and explain how this will hurt Walker County. Supposedly he has already made the statement concerning the Dade County School System, “Well, what do you want me to do about it.”
Jeff, if you need to know what this does to counties, contact Columbus-Muscogee County. Try not to give the standard answer, “Well, the people voted for it.” This does not cut it.
Rex Blevins, Trenton
Post a Comment