Important Notice to Homeowners Regarding 2009 Property Taxes

The state homestead tax relief grant that funded an increased homestead exemption for homeowners for the last several years will not be available this year.  Declining state revenues during the current recession means there is no money for the State to give the tax relief to homeowners.  The money used to fund the credit came from the State’s surplus.  This will mean a difference of $200 to $300 out of the taxpayers pocket on the 2009 tax bills for many Georgia homeowners.  The grant appropriated by the General Assembly and the Governor for the last several years to counties, cities and schools had given tax relief to homeowners in the form of a credit on their tax bills.  According to legislation passed this year (House Bill 143), the grant will only be made available in the future if state revenues grow at least 3% plus the rate of inflation.