Tax news round-up

Here are some of the latest commentaries on DeKalb County's property assessment notices:

• DecaturMetro:  "Could Decatur Do Its Own Property Tax Assessments?"

• DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader:  "So Your Tax Appraisal Came in High?"

• DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer:  "Diligence on assessments could lower your tax bill"

AJC reports on boards of equalization

Thursday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on boards of equalization that have experienced a sharp rise in property value appeals throughout metro-Atlanta.  The article also described DeKalb County’s “calendar-call format” for BOE hearings:

Instead of an appointment-based system that gave appealing property owners an assigned time to report for their case, [Cobb County] changed the format to a calendar-call system that requires scores of property owners to sign in so their appeals can be heard on a first-come, first-served basis…

Like Cobb, DeKalb County also adopted the calendar-call format to accommodate the extra BOE work.

“It wasn’t popular, but it is what it is,” said Debra DeBerry, the county’s Superior Court clerk. “That way you don’t lose any of your hours to no-shows, and we had large numbers of no-shows here.”

Based on its population, DeKalb is authorized to operate 13 BOEs, but it only uses between three and six panels because there isn’t space to accommodate more, DeBerry said. The BOEs have heard about 14,600 appeals for 2011.

DeBerry asked for additional funding for the BOE budget this year but didn’t get her full request. DeKalb’s BOE office budget is $442,000, including $240,000 for member salaries. She has also asked for additional operating space.

The AJC’s full article here may give local taxpayers some additional insight into how their BOE appeals are being handled, and what the BOE workload means for county budgets.

Message about property values

Please visit the City of Decatur's website here for a message about the property assessment notices that were recently sent out by DeKalb County.

Any update will also be posted as soon as it's available.

Tax office open this Saturday

One-time special Revenue Division hours

The City of Decatur property tax office, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., will also be open this Saturday, May 5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. These office hours will offer more opportunities for one-on-one customer service to the public–especially for taxpayers who aren’t able to stop by during the regular work week.

If you have a property tax issue, a homestead exemption question, a business license matter, or need to make a payment, please come by 509 North McDonough Street and enter through the front door of City Hall. The tax office is on the first floor to your left. No appointments are needed.

We will also take phone calls this Saturday:  404-370-4100.

Job opportunity open in Revenue Division

The City of Decatur is now considering applicants for our vacant Revenue Officer position.

Until now, there have been no vacancies in this position for the last 12 years, so this is a rare opportunity.

If you know a qualified person who would be interested in applying to join our team, please encourage them to read the job announcement and apply for the position.

Customer service skills are a must, and a property tax background is preferred.  Decatur often receives national recognition for local government excellence, so many applicants have already expressed their interest in this position, and we expect many more up through the May 9 deadline.

Revenue Officer leaves City Hall

One of our Revenue Officers, Kate Hall, has resigned to pursue other opportunities.

Kate began working for the City in 1999. She was an occupation tax specialist, and held certifications from state and national business license associations in addition to her accounting degree.

Kate told her colleagues, “It has been a pleasure working here at the City. Words cannot express my regret to say goodbye. But it is time for me to spread my wings and fly.”

About 20 city employees and friends including Mayor Bill Floyd and City Manager Peggy Merriss attended a recent farewell luncheon for Kate to wish her well.

Thank you for your service, Kate, and good luck with your next endeavor!

Kate Hall and Mayor Bill Floyd

Only 10 days left for business license payments

The deadline for local businesses to pay for their 2012 business license was Jan. 31. By law, businesses could still pay during a 90 day grace period following that deadline before penalties and interest are added.

Only 10 days of that grace period remain. Unpaid balances after Apr. 30 will be subject to a 10 percent penalty and 1 percent monthly interest.

Payments for occupational tax certificates may be made at City Hall or mailed to our office along with your invoice and notarized SAVE affidavit to:

City of Decatur
P.O. Box 220
Decatur, GA 30031

Failure to register for a renewal certificate will result in an automatic suspension of the business license.

Businesses no longer operating in the City of Decatur should notify us in writing so we can update our records.

City bills 7,500 properties

The City of Decatur Revenue Division mailed approximately 7,500 bills on Mar. 26 for property owners’ first installment tax bills for 2012.

Bills citywide totaled $17.9 million in taxes (which includes approximately $11.2 million for the school system) and $2.2 million for residential sanitation and stormwater fees.

Payments are due by June 1 and can be made by mail, in person, or online. First installment tax bills are always based of the prior year’s property value, and are calculated by multiplying the assessed value by the total millage rate of 33.9 and dividing the total in half.

Although the Revenue Division provides tax data to several major lenders upon their request, we always mail the tax bills directly to property owners. We do not mail bills to banks. If your mortgage company is responsible for your taxes, please forward the payment coupon at the lower portion of your tax bill to your lender.

If you own property in the city and have not received your tax city bill yet, please call our office to confirm your mailing address so we can send you a new bill. Or you can go to www.decaturgatax.com at any time to view, print, or pay your taxes.

Homestead exemptions reduce taxes

The homestead exemption application deadline is fast approaching!  If you live at the property you own, you may qualify for up to seven homestead exemptions offered by the City of Decatur:

·        General homestead exemption:  Homeowners who reside at their home are eligible to apply online or in person.  In 2011, this exemption reduced property taxes for eligible homeowners by $233.60.

·        GS-1 exemption:  You qualify to apply if you were at least 62 as of Jan. 1, and your total household income does not exceed $25,000.  The GS-1 saved most eligible homeowners $1,629 each in 2011.

·        S-1 exemption:  You qualify to apply if you were 62 or older as of Jan. 1 and your household income does not exceed $10,000 excluding retirement.  Pensions and Social Security do not count toward income for this exemption, but income such as salary, wages, rental income, interest and dividends are included.  The S-1 saved most eligible homeowners $209 in 2011.

·        GH-2 exemption:  Owners were 65 as of Jan. 1 may file for the GH-2 regardless of income.  It can save homeowners about $12 a year.

·       S-3 exemption:  Owners who were age 70 as of Jan. 1 may file for the S-3 regardless of income.  It saved eligible homeowners up to $995 in 2011.

·        S-2 exemption:  To qualify for a 100 percent exemption from school taxes, the homeowner must have been over the age of 80 as of Jan. 1 and household income cannot exceed $40,000.  This includes any type of income.

·        Disabled veterans can qualify for an additional exemption if they reside at the property and have a 100 percent disability documented by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

If you have already applied for a homestead exemption, you do not need to re-apply.  If you filed for a homestead exemption with DeKalb, you must also apply with Decatur.  You must apply if you qualify for a new exemption based on age or income.

By law we can accept homestead exemption applications up until Apr. 1.  However, we are encouraging all eligible homeowners to apply this week for any new exemptions for 2012 to ensure your exemption appears on your 1st installment 2012 property tax bill which will be printed and mailed just prior to April 1.

For details on how homestead exemptions are calculated or to apply for the general homestead exemption online, please click here.  Applicants for all other exemptions must apply in person at Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St., Monday through Friday, 8 to 5.

Please apply today, and remind a neighbor, too!

Concerned about online fees?

Over 22,379 visitors have used our online tax look-up website, www.decaturgatax.com since it was launched in late 2010.  December 2011 was a record month with 1,916 visitors alone (and Decatur only has about 8,000 properties)!

Although people increasingly turn to our website to look up tax information, we hear occasional concerns from the public about the online payment option.  The City of Decatur’s third party payment processor charges 2.2 percent plus 30¢ for online credit card payments through Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

Through our online survey, we’ve even received a comment that “The County has never charged a fee for payment.”  Actually, DeKalb County’s website says “Payments may be accepted via VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, but a 2.5 percent transaction fee will be added to the payment.”

The perception that Decatur charges a fee that the county doesn’t charge may stem from the fact that DeKalb doesn’t charge a fee for online checks.

While that function is not directly supported by the city’s third party processor, you may be able to issue an online check to the City of Decatur through your personal bank at no charge to you.  Several major and local banks or credit unions offer account services such as online checking that would enable you to pay through the Internet without incurring a fee.  In other words, you could use our website to look up how much money you owe, then use your own online bank account to issue a payment without having to write out your own paper check.  Please contact your bank for terms and details.

Decatur taxpayers can also pay online through PayPal, which I noticed is currently offering a “Bill Me Later” feature that offers six months to pay on payments of $99 or more.  I’m not endorsing any one payment method over another, but that feature may be an option worth looking into for some Decatur residents or business taxpayers facing short-term cash flow problems.  Details on that program can be found here.

And of course we still take payments the old-fashioned way—from checks by mail, payments in person, or payments from your mortgage lender!

Revenue office changes in the New Year

Shaun Shabazz did a great job running the Revenue Division while I was on military leave over the past year.  She conducted successful tax billings during the second installment of 2010 and both installments of 2011.  Shaun also managed a highly effective delinquent collections process that resulted in no homes having to be at a tax sale while simultaneously achieving a very high real estate property tax collection rate!

Thank you, Shaun!

Holly Jackson served as a revenue clerk in the office for the year, and she did a great job as well.  Her smiling face and warm presence won accolades from customers and co-workers alike.  We are saddened to see her leave our little office, but are glad that she’s still here in City Hall working in the Development Department now.

Lastly, I’d like to thank the City of Decatur and my supervisor, assistant city manager Andrea Arnold, for their support for my deployment and facilitating my re-entry to civilian life here.  I’m looking forward to getting reacquainted with the public throughout the New Year!