Rogers To Push Homestead Exemption Again

In the waning days of the General Assembly session, Republican state Senate leaders plan to take a final swing to push doubling homestead exemptions.

Last week, House Democrats were able to block a bill doubling the statewide homestead property tax exemption from $2,000, to $4,000 dollars. They say local governments would be forced to cut services and raise assessments to make up the shortfall.

But Republican Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers took issue with assertions from some Democrats that his party hasn’t done enough with property tax relief. He says instead of the homeowners tax relief grants which cost the state over $428-million, the homestead exemption should be doubled.

"We are stepping forward in cleaning-up what can only be characterized as a messy situation of granting property tax relief by sending a check to local governments...with real property tax relief in the form of increasing the homestead exemption statewide. We will be the party of cutting taxes, as we always have."

Rogers vowed to give House Democrats one more chance to pass the homestead exemption this week.

House Budget Passes

The house version of the budget totals out at about 18.5 billion dollars.

1.4 billion of that comes from the federal stimulus spending. That federal money will keep school nurses employed, and help balance the state’s Medicaid budget. And while 18.5 billion dollars might sound like a lot of money, it’s a pretty steep drop off from the past two years where spending came in over the 20 billion dollar mark.

In short, as Republican Ben Harbin explains, there were deep cuts to spending.

"We've had to make some tough decisions, and those tough decisions didn't come with just a willy-nilly reaction to what we thought was way a to get this budget balanced..."

For example, this bill does not fund homeowner tax relief grants. That’s means some property owners and municipalities will have to make up that shortfall. Democrats like House leader Dubose Porter, voted against the bill, calling the gutting of the tax grants unacceptable.

“We, by passing this bill are authorizing the largest tax increase in Georgia History.”

While technically not a tax increase, the decision to cut the grants could end up costing individual homeowners hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars next year. Normally the state has pays a portion of each homeowners tax bill. Republicans say the choices are tough when state revenues are shrinking, layoffs are increasing and consumer spending is way down. The House budget now goes to the Senate for approval.

State House Approves Freeze of Property Tax Values

Georgia House lawmakers Thursday approved a measure to freeze property tax values for two years. The vote on this measure followed a failure to pass a separate constitutional amendment which aimed to slow the growth of assessments.

Supporters say the plan passed would help lower taxes while preventing local governments from raising revenues through a "back door." Critics say it would deprive local governments of the revenue for crucial services such as police protection and education. It now goes to the Senate.

State Legislature--post election

Republicans seem to have withstood attempts by Georgia Democrats to put a major dent in their majority in the state Legislature.

Most incumbent legislators in the state Senate coasted to an election victory Tuesday night. And Democrats seem likely to make only marginal gains in the state House.

Republicans currently control the House with a 107-73 majority. Republicans held on to 104 seats, with another one tilting their way. Democrats locked up 72 seats, and another three are leaning their way.

The state Senate, meanwhile, is in a holding pattern. Republicans control the chamber by a 34-22 margin and that didn't change Tuesday.

--Associated Press--

House OK's charter school panel

State lawmakers have opened the door for more charter schools in Georgia. House members yesterday voted to create a seven-member state commission that could begin the sanctioning of new tuition-free schools as early as next year. The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Supporters say this is another way for the schools to be established which are denied by some school boards. Critics argue this is a way to skirt the authority of local school boards, which would still have to help fund the schools.

Charter schools are funded by tax dollars--they often allow teachers and principals more flexibility because their operation comes from a charter drafted by a community.

Gas pipeline plans move forward

A petroleum pipeline company is moving forward with an application process to build new line in west Georgia, despite legislation killed earlier this year that would have made the process easier.

Colonial Pipeline says the new line is necessary to meet growing demand. The entire 500-mile stretch would start in Austell, and run 46 miles through Georgia into Louisiana.

The House defeated a bill that would have allowed Colonial to bypass a stringent state permitting process.

Democratic Representative Don Wix of Mableton was a lead critic of the bill, because he says he wants to ensure environmental and property safeguards.

"We’re going to be watching them on every step because that comes through the heart of my legislative district...and these are people’s lives and houses they’re impacting".

The certification process is expected to begin in the fall.

Colonial says it hopes to build the new line as close to existing pipeline wherever possible.