Bill Text: GA SR685 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
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are paying property taxes based on assessed property values that are outdated;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.
