Taxes
Did you ever wonder where your tax bill comes from ? The Tax Commissioner ’ s Office collects property tax payments , but it ’ s only one of several government agencies with a role to play in getting you that unpleasant annual bill .
Board of Tax Assessors
The process starts with the Board of Tax Assessors , a three-person panel that is appointed by the Colquitt County Commissioners . The board currently consists of Mackie Dekle , Chuck Brooks and Becky Dupree .
This board reviews and approves all of the work completed by the employees of the assessors office .
There are four real property appraisers , who also handle mobile home appraisals and one personal property appraiser who value the property in the county . Jim Mac Booth is chief appraiser . By June the year ’ s appraisals are finished , the properties are categorized and the information is typed into a computer . The result is the county ’ s tax digest , which gives a value to all types of real property in the county .
Taxes are calculated based on 40 percent of the actual value of the real estate . In other words , if you have a $ 100,000 house , your taxes are based on a $ 40,000 assessment .
Some exemptions do apply . For instance , the value of a primary residence — the place the taxpayer actually lives — is decreased by the homestead exemption . Other exemptions apply to the elderly whose total income is less than $ 10,000 , to veterans with a servicerelated disability and to disabled , paralyzed homeowners .
Contact the Board of Assessors at 616-7425 .
Sales taxes
Unlike ad valorem ( property ) taxes , sales taxes are assessed directly by the Georgia Department of Revenue .
Consumers in Colquitt County pay 8 percent sales tax on general purchases . That includes both state and local taxes . Food is not subject to the state sales tax , but the local taxes do apply to it .
State sales tax .............................................. 4 percent Local Option Sales Tax ( LOST ) ............... 1 percent Special Purpose LOST ................................ 1 percent Education SPLOST ....................................... 1 percent Transportation SPLOST ............................. 1 percent
Total ................................................................. 8 percent
There are two times a year when a property owner is able to object to the their property ’ s value , from Jan . 1 to April 1 , which is return time , and 45 days after you get your property notice in the summer .
Local governments
When the Board of Assessors finishes the tax digest , it has to be converted over to the tax commissioner ’ s office and once it is checked , the tax commissioner forwards the figures to the county school board , the county commissioners and the cities so they can start the process of setting their millage rates . Once the rates are set , the tax commissioner carries the digest to Atlanta to have it approved before she can bill .
Each of those government bodies builds a budget to fund its various departments and programs . Based on how much money that budget needs and the value
2022 property tax rates ( in mills )
UNINCORP . MOULTRIE DOERUN NORMAN PK BERLIN ELLENTON FUNSTON County ................. 11.889 ............... 14.665 ........... 14.665 .................. 14.665 ........... 14.665 ................. 14.665 ........... 14.665 School .................... 8.685 ................. 8.685 ............. 8.685 .................... 8.685 ............. 8.685 ................... 8.685 ............. 8.685 Special Svc ........... 1.212 ........................ 0 ............. 1.212 .................... 1.212 ............. 1.212 ................... 1.212 ............. 1.212 Economic Dev . ...... 0.270 ................. 0.270 ............. 0.270 .................... 0.270 ............. 0.270 ................... 0.270 ............. 0.270 Parks & Rec ........... 1.755 ................. 1.755 ............. 1.755 .................... 1.755 ............. 1.755 ................... 1.755 ............. 1.755 Municipal ...................... 0 ................. 8.100 ............. 3.048 .................. 11.196 ............. 5.881 ................. 11.028 .................... 0 Total ..................... 23.811 ............... 33.475 ........... 29.635 .................. 37.783 ........... 32.468 ................. 37.615 ........... 26.587
30 2023 • Moultrie-Colquitt County Community Guide