State Senate passes property tax relief bill

Legislation aimed at limiting local property tax increases overwhelmingly cleared the Georgia Senate Thursday. Under Senate Bill 349, which passed 42-7, local governments would be prohibited from raising residential property assessments more than 3% annually.

The measure also changes provisions relating to public notices of a local government's intention to increase property taxes, changes the process for appealing a tax assessor's valuation of a residential property, and alters the process for settlement conferences regarding valuations.

'Our goal has always been to keep costs low for Georgia families,' said Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who presides over the state Senate and made property tax relief a priority for this year's legislative session. 'This bill will make the taxation process both less confusing and less expensive for Georgia taxpayers.'

The bill now moves to the state House of Representatives.