Residents checking their mail this week may have discovered Coweta County's annual present — property tax bills.

Coweta County Tax Commissioner Tommy Ferrell said taxes are due Dec. 15 this year and said many residents are surprised their tax bills went down.

There are several reasons for the lower figures. First, Ferrell pointed out the County Commission's and school board's tax rates both dropped this year.

Second, this is the first year of the Governor's Homestead Tax Relief Credit. This credit is applied to owner-occupied property and is reflected in the calculation of the tax bill.

Senior citizens will also notice a reduction in their bills because of a new senior exemption that started this year.

The exemption allows a homeowner who is 65 or older, or totally disabled, and who has a gross income between $12,500 and $25,000 to be exempt from school taxes on the first $20,000 of assessed property value.

Ferrell also reminds property owners that tax bills are mailed to the owner of record as of Jan. 1 of this year.

People who purchased property after Jan. 1 more than likely became responsible for payment of 1999 taxes at closing and should contact the previous owners or the tax commissioner's office for their tax bills.

Tax bills can either be mailed to the tax commissioner's office at 22 East Broad Street in Newnan or personally dropped by the office.

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