Bill Text: GA SR685 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Georgia Senate Resolution 685 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Property Tax Assessments and Appeals; create Senate Study Committee

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2009-04-01 - Senate Passed/Adopted [SR685 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SR685-Enrolled.html

09 LC 94 1319

Senate Resolution 685

By: Senator Rogers of the 21st

ADOPTED SENATE

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Study Committee on Property Tax Assessments and Appeals; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia and the nation are struggling with rising unemployment rates and a severe economic downturn; and

WHEREAS, current economic conditions have forced millions of Americans to lose their homes to foreclosure because they are no longer able to make their mortgage payments; and

WHEREAS, many taxpayers have expressed strong sentiment for reducing their tax burden given the current economic climate; and

WHEREAS, due to declines in property values around this state and nation, property owners are paying property taxes based on assessed property values that are outdated; and

WHEREAS, property owners are struggling to make their tax payments on property that they could no longer realistically sell on the open market for the tax assessed value; and

WHEREAS, study is needed to evaluate the process by which individual and corporate property in Georgia is assessed for tax purposes; and

WHEREAS, the uncertain economic times currently facing the Georgia General Assembly and the State of Georgia warrant examination of the current methods used to assess residential and commercial property, a deliberate assessment of the process by which an appeal to an assessed value can be made, and a clear understanding of the overall property assessment process will help to stabilize declining property values and benefit all Georgians by helping them keep their property.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study Committee on Property Tax Assessments and Appeals to be composed of five members to be appointed by the President of the Senate who shall designate one member as chairperson. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems as described above and recommend any actions or legislation that the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2009. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2009.