Property tax ammendment faces uphill battle in state house

This week the state house is likely to take up Speaker Glenn Richardson property tax reform. The plan is facing opposition from both the left and right of the political spectrum.

Last week county commissioners and school officials lobbied at the capitol against the speaker's plan to replace the education portion of property taxes with an expanded sales tax. Richardson says his plan would be revenue neutral to the state and benefit home owners.

Democrats declared their opposition last week because they say it would add taxes back onto groceries, which their party eliminated 10 years ago.

Also last week Americans for Tax Reform, a national conservative advocacy group, urged Georgia lawmakers to oppose the plan. According to Insider Advantage dot com, the group warns that the plan could end up being a tax increase. tax reform plan would need 120 votes in the house to make it onto the November ballot.

While Democrats alone could block the legislation, some Republicans, who signed a no new tax pledge, may also oppose it. According to political insiders, only about 75 house members are comfortable supporting the constitutional amendment in it’s current form.