Gov. Perdue wants to can tax credit; hike likely $200 or more

Governor Sonny Perdue is proposing to eliminate next year a property tax credit that uses state funds to provide revenues to local governments including Fayette's cites, school system and the county.

The Homeowner Tax Relief Grant deducts between $240 and $280 from the average property tax bill for a home in Fayette County, local officials have said.

Late last year Perdue impounded the tax relief funds, citing the state's poor economy. That move was a surprise to local governments, which count on the money annually.

Fayette's school system, for example, is set to receive $3.5 million of those funds.

But legislators can this session vote to release those funds, officials have said.

Jan Tankersley, the president of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia opposes eliminating the funding.

"Local governments also are facing budget challenges and this leaves us with a gaping hole that can only be filled by sending bills in the amount of the credit to our homeowners or further reducing county services," Tankersley said.

The tax relief grant was initiated by Gov. Roy Barnes and established in legislation that passed in 1999.