Taxes: Patterson says legislators not helping taxpayers
Speaker learns board listening; state should look at tax cuts
The second of three public hearings focusing on the effects of Georgia House Bill (HB) 581 reflected much of the first meeting, but also produced deeper insight among some present.
Fannin County commissioners, school board members, and city councils of Blue Ridge, McCaysville and Morganton are holding the hearings as they decide whether or not to opt out of HB 581.
The two hearings held so far indicate a decision must be made between what is best for taxpayers versus accepting the vote for the bill in November as truly the “will of the people.”
Victor “Vic” Osoletz spoke first on the side of the will of the people.
He pressed the commissioners saying the public hearings are “no more than a formality...Regardless of what the people say, you’re going to do what you want,” challenging the board.
Commission Chairman Jamie Hensley had opened the meeting saying, “We want to hear from as many folks as possible,” then responded, “There were several people that didn’t understand exactly what they voted for.”
Commissioner Johnny Scearce said, if HB 581 is “supposed to stop all the problems, why would it give you an out?” referring to the opt out provision local governments are considering.
Osoletz said he wanted it to be perfectly clear, “the public really has no say in this.”
Toward the end of the meeting, first term school board member Robert Patterson raised a point not heard before. Addressing the HB 581 and the legislators that made it law he said, “They want to help us with the only tax that doesn’t effect their budget.”
He made the statement after mentioning a list of some of the taxes levied by the state; the taxes on fuel, income, self-employment, motor vehicles, tobacco, alcohol, heavy use vehicles on roadways and several others.
Patterson attacked language in the bill, saying if the legislators had written a bill for themselves it would have been spelled out “line by line.” This being opposite of HB 581 that leaves many questions unanswered.
Chief Tax Appraiser Dawn Cochran confirmed other statements by Patterson, acknowledging, “The school loses (tax digest) value with no money coming in...(there are) too many ifs” in the bill.
She also explained that if property assessments are not in line with state requirements – a ratio between 36 and 44 percent of assessments to fair market value – the schools lose funding and the county faces heavy fines.
After hearing these and several other questions and explanations, Osoletz spoke again.
While confirming he still did not like the process, “After listening to everybody and understanding exactly what we’re doing,” he said, “It’s apparent to me you’re doing the right thing.”
He also commended Cochran for a “fantastic job” explaining the situation.
The comments came at the hearing Wednesday, January 15, in the Fannin County Courthouse.
The next public opt out hearing will be held Thursday, January 30, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center on the Fannin County High School campus.