FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Beth Soles
Camden County Tax Commissioner
912-576-3248
camdentc@co.camden.ga.us
Important Notice to Homeowners Regarding 2009 Property Taxes
Tax Commissioner Beth Soles says homeowners should brace themselves for additional property taxes this year and the next. The state homestead tax relief grant that funded an increased homestead exemption for homeowners for the last several years will not be available this year. Declining state revenues during the current recession means there is no money for the State to give the tax relief to homeowners said Soles. This will mean a property tax increase of $200 to $300 on the 2009 tax bills for many Georgia homeowners. The grant appropriated by the General Assembly and the Governor for the last several years to counties, cities and schools had given tax relief to homeowners in the form of a credit on their tax bills. According to legislation passed this year (House Bill 143), the grant will only be made available in the future if state revenues grow at least 3% plus the rate of inflation.
Soles encourages homeowners to prepare for the increase now before tax bills are issued later this year. It’s unfortunate in slow economic times to have to deliver this message says Soles but homeowners need to know now so they can plan accordingly with their household budgets or make sure that tax escrows are properly funded with their mortgage companies to handle the tax increase.
Soles would like everyone to know that your local County Commission, School Board or City is not to be held accountable for this bill that was approved by the 2009 Legislation.
