TO THE EDITOR

The state of Georgia mandates property reappraisal, which each county is required to abide by, but in doing so, also leaves doors open so that the county can be affordable to all homesteaders.

With the door open for property valuation freeze, this allows for the homesteader to be able to reside in their home without having their property re-appraised and taxed accordingly. At such time that the property is sold, then the property can be reappraised.

In doing so, this gives the county a good tax base to work from and then as the county continues to grow with new development, so does the county tax base.

One of the most valued resources in any community is the good stable homesteaders. These citizens cost the county very little in county resources such as law enforcement, schools and public safety.

These citizens bring a vast amount of knowledge and comfort to the county via volunteer workers. These citizens are some of the best educated and experienced. This is one of the greatest assets a county can have.

Let's stop penalizing our homestead retired citizens who have chosen to make Lincoln County their home. Let's make it an affordable place to homestead and retire. Let's take advantage of the opportunities that the state of Georgia has allowed to help relieve this problem.

The county commissioners have said that they do not want to shift the tax burden to any one segment of the population but this is exactly what the county is doing to the citizens that live on the lake and family homesteads by way of over-appraising of property and the taxes that follow. In doing so the retired citizens can no longer afford to be a part of Lincoln County. What a loss to the county.

Let the commissioners of Lincoln County step forward and enact a property valuation freeze that is provided for by the Georgia Constitution. This is a win win situation for all the citizens and gives the county a good tax base to work from. This is the only fair way for all of the citizens in the county. Doing this would stop our best citizens from having to leave the county because of too high taxes.

There are over 30 counties in Georgia, including the city of Atlanta, that have taken advantage of this valuation freeze. We in Lincoln County need this!

Contact your district commissioner and encourage them to support and take advantage of this much needed homestead valuation freeze.

AL BEAN, PRESIDENT CONCERNED CITIZENS OF

LINCOLN COUNTY