07 LC 18
6188/AP
House
Bill 501 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representative Jenkins of the
8th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
provide for a homestead exemption from City of Hiawassee ad valorem taxes for
municipal purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year
assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value of
such homestead; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions
of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to allow such exemption to
continue to be received by an unremarried surviving spouse or the child,
children, grandchild, or grandchildren of the deceased spouse; to provide for
applicability; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic
repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
(a)
As used in this Act, the term:
(1)
"Ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes" means all municipal ad valorem taxes
for municipal purposes levied by, for, or on behalf of the City of Hiawassee,
including, but not limited to, ad valorem taxes to pay interest on and to retire
municipal bonded indebtedness.
(2)
"Base year" means the taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year in
which the exemption under this Act is first granted to the most recent owner of
such homestead; provided, however, that in the event a reassessment of the
homestead causes the actual assessed value of that homestead to be increased,
the governing authority of the city or the designee thereof shall adjust the
base year assessed value by the lesser of 3 percent or the actual percentage
increase in the actual assessed value.
(3)
"Homestead" means homestead as defined and qualified in Code Section 48-5-40 of
the O.C.G.A., as amended.
(b)(1)
Each resident of the City of Hiawassee is granted an exemption on that
person´s homestead from City of Hiawassee ad valorem taxes for municipal
purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed
value of that homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value of that
homestead. This exemption shall not apply to taxes assessed on improvements to
the homestead or additional land that is added to the homestead after January 1
of the base year. If any real property is added to or removed from the
homestead, the base year assessed value shall be adjusted to reflect such
addition or removal and the exemption shall be recalculated accordingly. The
value of that property in excess of such exempted amount shall remain subject to
taxation.
(2)
The unremarried surviving spouse or the child, children, grandchild, or
grandchildren of the deceased spouse who has been granted the exemption provided
for in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall continue to receive the exemption
provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection so long as that unremarried
surviving spouse or child, children, grandchild, or grandchildren of the
deceased spouse continue to occupy the home as a residence and
homestead.
(c)
A person shall not receive the homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of
this section unless the person or person´s agent files an application with
the governing authority of the City of Hiawassee, or the designee thereof,
giving such information relative to receiving such exemption as will enable the
governing authority of the City of Hiawassee, or the designee thereof, to make a
determination regarding the initial and continuing eligibility of such owner for
such exemption. The governing authority of the City of Hiawassee, or the
designee thereof, shall provide application forms for this purpose.
(d) The exemption shall be claimed and returned as provided in Code Section 48-5-50.1 of the O.C.G.A., as amended. The exemption shall be automatically renewed from year to year as long as the owner occupies the residence as a homestead. After a person has filed the proper application as provided in subsection (c) of this section, it shall not be necessary to make application thereafter for any year and the exemption shall continue to be allowed to such person. It shall be the duty of any person granted the homestead exemption under subsection (b) of this section to notify the governing authority of the City of Hiawassee, or the designee thereof, in the event that person for any reason becomes ineligible for that exemption.
(e) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to or affect state ad valorem taxes, county ad valorem taxes for county purposes, or county or independent school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes. The homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other homestead exemption applicable to municipal ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes.
(f) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall apply to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2008.
(d) The exemption shall be claimed and returned as provided in Code Section 48-5-50.1 of the O.C.G.A., as amended. The exemption shall be automatically renewed from year to year as long as the owner occupies the residence as a homestead. After a person has filed the proper application as provided in subsection (c) of this section, it shall not be necessary to make application thereafter for any year and the exemption shall continue to be allowed to such person. It shall be the duty of any person granted the homestead exemption under subsection (b) of this section to notify the governing authority of the City of Hiawassee, or the designee thereof, in the event that person for any reason becomes ineligible for that exemption.
(e) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to or affect state ad valorem taxes, county ad valorem taxes for county purposes, or county or independent school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes. The homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other homestead exemption applicable to municipal ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes.
(f) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall apply to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2008.
SECTION
2.
Unless
prohibited by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, the municipal
election superintendent of the City of Hiawassee shall call and conduct an
election as provided in this section for the purpose of submitting this Act to
the electors of the City of Hiawassee for approval or rejection. The municipal
election superintendent shall conduct that election on the Tuesday after the
first Monday in November, 2007, and shall issue the call and conduct that
election as provided by general law. The municipal election superintendent
shall cause the date and purpose of the election to be published once a week for
two weeks immediately preceding the date thereof in the official organ of Towns
County. The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the
words:
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"( ) YES
( ) NO
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Shall
the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from City of Hiawassee
ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in an amount equal to the amount by
which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base
year assessed value of such homestead?"
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All
persons desiring to vote for approval of the Act shall vote "Yes," and all
persons desiring to vote for rejection of the Act shall vote "No." If more than
one-half of the votes cast on such question are for approval of the Act, Section
1 of this Act shall become of full force and effect on January 1, 2008. If the
Act is not so approved or if the election is not conducted as provided in this
section, Section 1 of this Act shall not become effective and this Act shall be
automatically repealed on the first day of January immediately following that
election date. The expense of such election shall be borne by the City of
Hiawassee. It shall be the municipal election superintendent´s duty to
certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State.
SECTION
3.
Except
as otherwise provided in Section 2 of this Act, this Act shall become effective
upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such
approval.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.