Did your property tax bill go up?
When Gwinnett homeowners look at their property tax bills this year, they'll owe between $84 and $272 more due to state government budget cuts. Since 1999, the state's Homeowners Tax Relief Grant, otherwise known as HTRG, has provided a credit for a portion of most residential property taxes in Georgia, but legislators decided the state can't afford tax relief this year. The amount the state paid varied by property based on exemptions and location. If a mortgage lender pays your property taxes from an escrow account, the lender will need to adjust your monthly escrow payment to cover this additional expense.

Your tax bill is calculated based on the assessed value of the property (40% of the appraised value), minus any exemptions, multiplied by the millage rate minus any credits. A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of net assessed value. The millage rate is determined by the budgets adopted by the county, the board of education, and cities (if you reside in a city and the city levies a property tax). Each of these jurisdictions sets its budget and millage rate individually and has no authority over the other jurisdictions. Some areas also have special tax districts that add to the millage rate. In addition, the State of Georgia assesses an additional .25 mill. The Tax Commissioner is responsible for billing, collecting, and distributing your tax dollars to the appropriate jurisdictions.

Mailing of property tax bills was delayed this year by unresolved litigation and ongoing uncertainties due to declining revenues. A judge issued a temporary collection order on August 13, 2009, to allow Gwinnett County to begin billing and collecting taxes. The Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner began mailing the bills on August 28, 2009. The temporary collection order set two payment dates of October 15 and November 15, but no penalty will apply until November 16. The County will ultimately have to set the final 2009 millage rate upon settlement of SDS. At that time, a reconciliation will be completed as required. The reconciliation could mean the County would have to issue refunds or send a second set of tax bills.

More information on property taxes is available from the Association County Commissioners Georgia at www.FactsAboutPropertyTax.com.