Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Local tax relief bill goes to CapitolBy J. FRANK LYNCH A bill to create an extra homestead tax emption for senior citizens in Peachtree City, requested by the City Council last fall, was expected to be introduced in the state House on Tuesday. Rep. Virgil Fludd, D-Tyrone, chairman of the county delegation, said the local bill just needed a few last signatures before it could be dropped in the hopper. He said it should show up on the House agenda by Thursday. Last fall, the City Council voted 4-1, with Judi-ann Rutherford opposed, to create a $5,000 exemption on property taxes to senior citizens over age 65 who earn less than $30,000 annually, not counting Social Security income. Such tight guidelines made the exemption almost a moot point, said city officials, who estimated that because so few residents would qualify, the net revenue effect could be as low as $7,000. Still, Mayor Steve Brown and others on the council, particularly Murray Weed, pushed for the exemption. Rutherford argued that there were plenty of groups in town who could use the exemption, so there was no point in singling out seniors. That position was shared by Rep. Dan Lakly, R-Peachtree City, who said hed support the councils desires anyway. There are a lot of people who deserve a tax break other than seniors, like young families, said Lakly. Weve got a pretty wealthy population already. Among other bills with local ties, Fludd reintroduced a measure last week held over from last years session that would require licensing and training of mortgage loan officers in the state. HB 498 has its roots in the House banking commitee, which Fludd served on before being reassigned by Republican leadership this session, he said. We want to bring a level of added professionalism to something thats extremely important in the lives of Georgians, said Fludd, whose own home was foreclosed on by a lender last year. If you go get a haircut, the person who cuts your hair for $12 has to be licensed, he said. But if you go buy a home, the person who does that loan for $150,000 or $200,000 dont have to be licensed. Mortgage brokers, who typically hire lenders, must be licensed and bonded, Fludd pointed out, but not the lenders themselves. Also, the House education committee is expected to hear testimony on another bill authored by Fludd, HB 105, which would require publishers to provide electronic or CD-rom versions of all their textbooks to school systems for purchase.
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