Fulton Assessors Reject Call To Rescind 2017 Property Tax Assessments

ATLANTA, GA -- The Fulton County Board of Assessors on Thursday rejected the resounding calls from elected officials and residents alike to rescind the 2017 property tax noticed mailed last month by the county, a move that will, no doubt, add fuel to the fire in the vocal frustrations of many citizens.

Board members said they did not have the legal authority to rescind the 2017 notices. The board made its decision after reconvening from an executive session to discuss litigation.

Fulton County Commission Vice Chairman Bob Ellis, who called on the board to rescind the notices during a joint press conference held with Commission Chairman John Eaves, said he was frustrated by the decision, but remains hopeful that a resolution could be reached that varies from the current course.

"The board did take certain actions regarding additional review of some areas which may provide some relief, but those actions do not go anywhere near far enough," he added on his Facebook page. "I will keep advocating for the taxpayers and seeking to find solutions."

Thursday's meeting lasted for hours, and drew hundreds of attendees who begged the board to toss out the 2017 assessments.

Eaves, who spoke during the June 15 meeting, said he hoped the board would make a "compassionate decision" and provide taxpayers a much-needed break.

Hundreds of people have called, emailed or spoken with him, and he's also received more than 1,000 signatures on a petition calling for the freeze. Those reaching out to him are from all over the county and are consistent in their belief that the resulting tax hike will bring about a personal financial crisis in their homes.

A freeze, he said, would give residents time to adjust to the increases that would hit their tax bills. To that end, Eaves said he's asked Fulton Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand to roll out a payment plan that would allow property owners to pay off any large bills in incremental steps.

City of Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood, whose city approved a resolution asking the board to rescind the 2017 notices, also expressed disappointment in the decision in the board's decision.

"While this is certainly not the answer we all hoped for, I can assure you that our efforts do not end with today's BOA vote," he added in a statement. "We've already heard from so many of our Milton residents regarding the negative financial impact this has on your family, the fear of our senior residents who want to remain in their homes, the questionable appraisal amounts, inaccurate application of homestead exemptions, and the list goes on. We were further committed to our efforts after hearing from Fulton County residents who detailed their personal circumstances during the public comment portion of today's meeting."

Lockwood added Milton staff will reach out to colleagues at the county and state level to evaluate what could be done in the interim and what actions could be taken in the long-term "that help ensure we never find ourselves in this predicament again."

Along with Milton, the cities of Johns Creek and Atlanta approved resolutions requesting the board to rescind the 2017 notices. Additionally, both Atlanta Public Schools and the Fulton County School System have also asked the board to take into account the impact any decision could have on their respective operations.

Dozens of people spoke before the assessors on Thursday, including John Albers, a Republican state senator from Roswell. Albers said he wanted to put everyone in the room "on notice," and that it was time for the county to fix the issues that have plagued the system over the last several years. He told the audience that the county had been fined by the state for not assessing properties at the required levels and the state even offered a way for Fulton to pay back the fees levied on the county.

However, according to the state senator, Fulton County sued the state and lost.

“We spent time, dollars and resources to fight something we were already dong wrong,” he added, later adding that if the Board of Assessors doesn't fix the problem, "I will."

One resident told board members that the value on her bungalow skyrocketed 65 percent. The homeowner lives in a neighborhood where property owners are tearing down older homes to "build McMansions," she added. As a senior citizen, she does not have the resources to pay for the tab. While holding back tears, the woman said her husband was killed several years ago in an accident and "I have wonderful memories in that house."

"I don't want to have to leave," she added.

City of Atlanta employee Tracy Thornhill said his co-workers love the community where they live and serve, but have been taken aback by the spike in assessments they've seen on their respective properties. One gentleman, he said, experienced a 146-percent increase.

"We can't continue to do this," he said, adding that he hopes the Board of Assessors would do the right thing.

Courtney English, chairman of the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education, rounded out the lineup of speakers. As someone who is often in the hot seat, English said he understands the rock and a hard place board members are currently wedged between.

However, these extraordinarily high assessments imposed in one year is "unfair and imposes an undue burden on taxpayers," particularly on the county's most vulnerable residents. English said Chief Tax Assessor Dwight Robinson met with APS officials earlier this year and projected the 2017 net digest would increase about 6 percent from the 2016 levels.

APS based its 2017-18 budget on that projection to cover only mandatory expense, English said. With the latest development, English said he and his colleagues are simply proposing a balanced approach that eases the burden on taxpayers, but does not impose unnecessary strains on the students and staff members of the Atlanta Public School system.

"We are prepared to live within our means," he said, adding APS is also ready to rollback the millage rate to offset the increase in assessments.

For his part, Robinson told the assessors the net digest actually increased about 8.9 percent from 2016 to 2017. He also said he and his staff have been at every emergency town hall meeting that has been held within the last two weeks in response to the increase in assessments. Appraisers have also been on hand at these meetings to discuss assessments with property owners and offer explanations as to why their parcels may have seen an increase.

“So far, I think we've done a good job in educating the taxpayers about their own particular parcels and we’ve had several appeals filed through that route," he added.

Robinson also said the county has reviewed roughly 61,000 parcels that experienced reassessed values greater than 50 percent and staff members have identified some neighborhoods where they will have to re-issue values for. While he did not have an exact figure on hand, Robinson said the neighborhoods are located in the College Park, East Point and Milton areas.

Despite the onslaught of criticism and frustration expressed by property owners, board member RJ Morris thanked Robinson for his professionalism and stamina in the face of anger. However, he did say he did not appreciate the way the Robinson has been treated by some residents and property owners.

“You do not need to yell at him," he added. "Ask him a question...but please treat him with (the) respect that he gives you as well.”

Robinson said he does not have the impression that taxpayers are personally attacking him in their questions and speeches. While there have been a few people who have gotten out of hand, he said he understands that emotional outbursts are part of the process.

"They are just feeling real pain, and I don’t have a problem with them expressing that to me,” he added.

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