Friday, February 2, 2001
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Friday, February 2, 2001 |
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County to hear tax-slashing proposal
By JOHN
THOMPSON
The Coweta County Commission is scheduled to hear a proposal Tuesday that could cut taxes for senior citizens. Resident Bill Griggers has been collecting petitions for months from seniors who would like to see the elimination of the school system's maintenance and operation millage from their tax bills. Griggers wants residents 65 years and older to be totally exempt from paying the tax up to $250,000 of the fair market value of their homes. He further proposes that exemptions would be limited to the home and five acres, and no exemptions would be granted for taxes due to school bonds. Currently, Griggers said just over 2,000 seniors receive some sort of exemption from school tax and 2,800 would receive exemptions under his proposal. He estimates it would cost $600,000 in tax revenue to the school system, but school officials said it could cost up to $4 million. Griggers said he has talked to school officials about his proposal, but has gotten nowhere and is asking the county to examine his proposal and give him feedback. He also has sent his facts and figures to state legislators to see if there is any legislation that can be introduced to grant exemptions to the seniors.
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