Georgia-2011-HB220-Introduced

To provide for a homestead exemption from City of Emerson ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in the amount of $10,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that city; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

(a) As used in this Act, the term:

(1) "Ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes" means all ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes levied by, for, or on behalf of the City of Emerson, including, but not limited to, any ad valorem taxes to pay interest on and to retire municipal bonded indebtedness.

(2) "Homestead" means homestead as defined and qualified in Code Section 48-5-40 of the O.C.G.A., as amended.

(b) Each resident of the City of Emerson is granted an exemption on that person's homestead from City of Emerson ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in the amount of $10,000.00 of the assessed value of that homestead. The value of that property in excess of such exempted amount shall remain subject to taxation.
(c) A person shall not receive the homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section unless the person or person's agent files an application with the governing authority of the City of Emerson, or the designee thereof, giving such information relative to receiving such exemption as will enable the governing authority of the City of Emerson, or the designee thereof, to make a determination regarding the initial and continuing eligibility of such owner for such exemption. The governing authority of the City of Emerson, or the designee thereof, shall provide application forms for this purpose.
(d) The exemption shall be claimed and returned as provided in Code Section 48-5-50.1 of the O.C.G.A., as amended. The exemption shall be automatically renewed from year to year as long as the owner occupies the residence as a homestead. After a person has filed the proper application, as provided in subsection (c) of this section, it shall not be necessary to make application thereafter for any year and the exemption shall continue to be allowed to such person. It shall be the duty of any person granted the homestead exemption under subsection (b) of this section to notify the governing authority of the City of Emerson, or the designee thereof, in the event that person for any reason becomes ineligible for that exemption.
(e) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to or affect state ad valorem taxes, county ad valorem taxes for county purposes, or county or independent school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes. The homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall be in lieu of and not in addition to any other homestead exemption applicable to municipal ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes.
(f) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall apply to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2012.

Unless prohibited by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, the municipal election superintendent of the City of Emerson shall call and conduct an election as provided in this section for the purpose of submitting this Act to the electors of the City of Emerson for approval or rejection. The municipal election superintendent shall conduct that election on the date of the November, 2011, municipal general election and shall issue the call and conduct that election as provided by general law. The municipal superintendent shall cause the date and purpose of the election to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the date thereof in the official organ of Bartow County. The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the words:

All persons desiring to vote for approval of the Act shall vote "Yes," all those persons desiring to vote for rejection of the Act shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for approval of the Act, Section 1 of this Act shall become of full force and effect on January 1, 2012. If the Act is not so approved or if the election is not conducted as provided in this section, Section 1 of this Act shall not become effective and this Act shall be automatically repealed on the first day of January immediately following that election date. The expense of such election shall be borne by the City of Emerson. It shall be the municipal election superintendent's duty to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State.