HR1178: HR1178 General Assembly; provide by general law for local grant and adjustment programs; authorize

26 LC 47 3826 House Resolution 1178 By: Representatives Richardson of the 125 th, Newton of the 127 th, Leverett of the 123 rd, Clifton of the 131st, Smith of the 138th, and others A RESOLUTION Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to remove the cap on benefits granted1 pursuant to the Homeowner's Incentive Adjustment clause; to aut horize the General2 Assembly to provide by general law for local grant and adjustment programs; to provide for3 related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection;4 and for other purposes.5 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Article VII, Section IIA of the Constitution is amended by revising Paragraph I as follows:8 "Paragraph I. State and local grants; adjustment amount. (a) For each taxable year, a9 homeowner's incentive adjustment may be applied to the return of each taxpayer claiming10 such state-wide homestead exemption as may be specified by gene ral law. The General11 Assembly by general law may authorize local governments and loc al school systems to12 establish local grant programs and to appropriate local tax fun ds in support of local13 homeowner's incentive adjustments.14 (b) The amount of such adjustment the adjustment applied pursuant to subparagraph (a)15 of this Paragraph may provide a taxpayer with a benefit equivalent to a homestea d16 exemption of up to $18,000.00 of the assessed value of a taxpay er's homestead or the17 H. R. 1178 - 1 - 26 LC 47 3826 taxpayer's ad valorem property tax liability on the homestead, whichever is lower. The18 General Assembly may appropriate such amount each year for grants to local governments19 and school districts as homeowner tax relief grants.20 (c) The adjustments and grants authorized by this Paragraph shall be m ade in such21 manner and shall be subject to the procedures and conditions as may be specified by22 general law heretofore or hereafter enacted."23 SECTION 2.24 The above proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be publi shed and submitted as25 provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution. The ballot submitting the26 above proposed amendment shall have written or printed thereon the following:27 "( ) YES28 ( ) NO 29 30 Shall the Homeowner's Incentive Adjustment clause be amended to provide property tax relief to homeowners by authorizing local grants and adjustments and by removing the current cap on benefits provided to homeowners?" All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "Yes." 31 All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "No." If32 such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall33 become a part of the Constitution of this state.34 H. R. 1178 - 2 -