Passing laws to seek better lives
LEGISLATIVE REPORT - 24th DISTRICT
By Sen. Bil Jackson Georgia District 24

The Georgia General Assembly is now on its way to the fifth week of the legislative session, and so far, numerous measures have been passed that seek to better the lives of Georgians. We have completed 18 of the 40 required legislative days of business, and I am proud of the work we have done up to this point.

The legislature recognizes the difficulties Georgia property owners face with rising property tax rates, and this week took steps to provide some relief. On Tuesday, the Senate passed a property tax reform initiative that will freeze property taxes at the 2008 rates until the property is sold. Senate Resolutions 796 and 686 propose an amendment to the Constitution to require the freezing of existing real property values at the time the owner acquires the property. Any valuation increases thereafter would be subject to limitations. Once a property is transferred or sold, it will be appraised at its fair market value on the date of the new owner's acquisition. A cap will be placed on increases so that any increase in the assessment cannot exceed an inflation percentage set by the Department of Revenue for the current tax year.

Both measures were passed as Constitutional Amendments, and if approved by the House of Representatives, will appear on the ballot in November for voter consideration. I applaud the efforts of Senators Eric Johnson, author of SR 686, and Chip Rogers, author of SR 796, for their work on this issue.

In addition to the above resolutions, the Senate also passed another tax reform measure by Sen. Rogers, SR 859, which will eliminate the state portion of the property tax. Currently, the state collects a onequarter mill ad valorem tax on most property in Georgia. If passed by voters in November, that tax will be eliminated, saving Georgians about $95 million in property taxes during 2010 and will increase yearly after that.

In other news from under the Gold Dome, Sen. Johnson recently filed Senate Bill 458, which will force failing public schools and nonaccredited public school systems to provide scholarships/vouchers to their students so they can attend another public or private school of their choice. This legislation will soon be discussed in the Senate Education and Youth Committee, which I have recently been appointed as an ex-officiomember. I am honored by this appointment by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, and I look forward to working with the committee members on passing legislation aimed at helping Georgia's students achieve the highest level of academic success. I believe we can continue to reach such a goal through the passage of SB 458.

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