Tax Group Asks Douglas County School Board to Postpone $295,000 Attorney Contract Vote

Douglasville, GA:  The Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC) has asked the Douglas County Board of Education to postpone the scheduled June 15^th  7:00 PM vote for a $295,000 services contract for legal services with board attorney Ken Bernard.

In a letter dated June 12, 2008, James Bell director of DCTC called the proposed fees “excessive and extreme”. Bell asked that the school board postpone the vote scheduled next Monday night until the board can do their “homework” and determine what other counties are paying for comparable services.

In an effort to provide the public with information concerning the property tax/value appeal process www.BFTaxHelp.com (Ben Franklin Tax Help) has compiled a simple to understand time line of the appeal process. This report will help you better understand how you can keep your property values uniform with your neighborhood at little or no cost.

Visit: www.BFTaxHelp.com

June 29^th Appeal Deadline (45 days)

Property owners, you should have received your notice from the Douglas County Appraisal Department last week. Notices were sent out May 15^th. If you do not agree with the value set by the county, you have 45 days (June 29^th) from the date of the notice to file an appeal.

 How to file an appeal: www.bftaxhelp.com

By Shannon McCaffrey Story updated at 8:28 AM on Thursday, May. 7, 2009

ATLANTA - Property assessments in Georgia cannot rise until 2011 under a bill signed into law on Wednesday by Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Supporters say the new law will prevent local governments from hiking assessments during an economic downturn that has driven many property values down. But critics say it could lead counties and cities to boost millage rates instead, meaning tax bills will rise either way.

May 1, 2009 - Lithia Springs GA: Douglas County District One Commissioner Freddie Ashmon’s Thursday night town hall meeting ended abruptly after Commissioner Ashmon become enraged by a question from a citizen. 

The meetig was held at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lithia Springs.

Witnesses said Ashmon became angry after Jimmy Hulsey, a 55 resident of Douglas County, asked Ashmon to explain why he has missed numerous official meetings. Hulsey read a list of dates of commission meetings, obtained through an open records request which showed Ashmon’s absences. Ashmon attempted to talk over Mr. Hulsey, who had the floor and accused Hulsey of lying and attempting to discredit him.

According to Hulsey, Commissioner Ashmon left the lectern, approached him, and angrily slapped his hands knocking his notes to the floor. Ashmon then grabbed the remaining papers in Hulsey’s hands, ripped and through the papers to the floor and kicked and stomped them.