HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION NO 17 06 431I
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STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY OF FULTON
RESOLUTION NO. 17-06-431
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MILTON AUTHORIZING CORRESPONDENCE
TO FULTON COUNTY REGARDING PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS
WHEREAS, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3, municipal corporations have the legislative
power to adopt clearly reasonable ordinances, resolutions, or regulations relating to its property,
affairs, and local government; and
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Milton is aware that property owners in
Milton are very concerned with recent property valuation assessments by the Fulton County
Assessor; and
WHEREAS, property owners in Milton, and throughout Fulton County, are seeing major
increases in property tax bills due to significantly increased assessments; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is aware that these increased assessments could have very
serious financial consequences for City of Milton property owners;
WHEREAS, although the City of Milton has no oversight of the Fulton County Assessor's
office, the City Council wishes to formally express its concerns as to these increased assessments.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF
MILTON, that Milton staff are hereby authorized to prepare correspondence on behalf of the
Mayor for delivery to the Fulton County Chairman, as well as the Fulton County Chief Assessor
and the Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Assessors, that will express the concerns of the
City Council related to these significantly increased assessments.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that this letter may request an emergency freeze on
additional assessments.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that based upon the feedback of the City Council at a
June 13 , 2017 Special Called Meeting, staff are hereby authorized to prepare the above-referenced
letter in substantial compliance with the guidance given by the Council -and the Mayor shall be
authorized to execute and deliver same to the previously-referenced Fulton County entities and
individuals on behalf of the entire Council.
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SO RESOLVED this 13th day of June, 2017, the public health, safety and welfare
demanding it.
Approved:
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Karen Thurman, District 1, City of Milton
Burt Hewitt, District 1, City of Milton
Joe Longoria, District 3, City of Milton
Attest:
Jerk, City of Milton
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MILTON~
ESTABLISHED 2006
June 13, 2017
Fulton County Board of Assessors
Attn: E. Gayle Barnett, Chair
235 Peachtree Street N.E., Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30303
MAYOR
Joe Lockwood
RE: 2017 Fulton County Property Tax Assessments
CITY COUNCIL
Karen Thurman Burt Hewitt
Matt Kunz Joe Longoria
Bill Lusk Rick Mohrig
Dear Chairwoman Barnett and Members of the Fulton County Board of
Assessors:
On behalf of the entire Milton City Council and the approximately 37 ,000
residents living in the city of Milton, we o re requesting that you rescind the
recently mailed 2017 Fulton County Property Tax Assessments, and freeze
existing valuations until such time that the Fulton County Chief Appraiser Dwight
Robinson and his staff can review and confirm the accuracy of current property
assessment notices.
It is our opinion, as clearly outlined by the letter from Fulton County Chairman
John Eaves and Vice Chairman Bob Ellis, repeatedly documented by our Milton
residents during the June 8 town hall meeting at the Fulton County Water
Resources Operations Center, and verified through our own personal
experiences as Fulton County property owners, that the wide-ranging increases
are questionable at best and erroneous in many cases.
We have no doubt that the next town hall meeting scheduled for June 14 with
Commissioner Liz Hausmann will further document the excessive increases,
questionable appraisals, failure to adhere to frozen assessments, and
misapplication of exemptions just to name a few.
We recognize the role the appeals process plays and we agree with Mr.
Robinson's recent town hall statement that "the appeals process is meant to
make sure that you have due process." However, the appeals process is not the
solution for this problem-an administrative problem that was created through
no fault of Fulton County taxpayers.
2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004 P: 678.242.2500 I F: 678.242.2499 info@cityofmiltonga.usIwww.cityofmiltonga .us
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Shifting the burden to taxpayers to fix this problem by submitting appeals for
erroneous assessments is simply unacceptable.
Out of respect for the citizens that we all serve and in the spirit of fairness ,
transparency, and a collective desire for good governance, we implore the
Board of Assessors to do what is right by voting in favor of rescinding the 2017
property tax assessments . As government officials and public servants, the
burden is on us to correct errors and get it right, regardless of whether we are
elected, appointed or selected. The Board of Assessors has an opportunity to
get this right by rescinding current assessments and starting fresh.
Sincerely,
Joe Lockwood
Mayor
Karen Thurman
Council member, District 1 /Post 1
Joe Longoria
Councilmember, District 3/Post 2
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Rick Mohrig
Mayor Pro Tern , District 3/Post 2
Burt Hewitt
Councilmember, District 1 /Post 2
Matt Kunz
Councilmember, District 2/Post 2
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2006 Heritage Walk Milton. GA 30004 P: 678.242.2500 IF: 678.242.2499 info@cityofmiltonga.us I www.cityofmiltonga.us
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TOF RE CEIPT
The attached letter and resolut ion w as hand-delivered on W ednesday, June 14,
2017.
TO:
Fult on County Board of Assessors
Attn: E. Gayle Barnett , Chair
235 Peac htree Street, N.E., Suit e 1400
Atlanta, Georgi a 30303
___!.:. 2017 Fult on County Pro perty Tax Assessment s
FRO :
City of Milt on
Mayor and City Council
2006 Herit age Wal k
Milton, Geo rgia 30004
ACCEPTED Y:
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