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The topic of the meeting was Assessments, Appraisals, and Appeals. The co-presenters were Shane Hix, the new Chief Appraiser for Hart County, and Bill Fogerty, President of HCPOA. Richard Byrum of American Pest Control sponsored a social hour with refreshments. Assessment Notice: Each property in Hart County received an assessment notice sent to the property owner. The notice includes the appraised value and the net taxable value with exemptions noted. The tax is based on the current millage, not 2023 millage. The new millage will be calculated in the fall by BOC and BOE once the digest is completed. First, take a look at your assessment. If the property owner feels it is too high, they can visit the appraiser's office on Cade St and sit down with one of the staff. Ask the question, "How did you get this number?" Additionally, obtain a copy of the property record card, which includes all key data about the property, including land, improvement (home), and accessory information. A property card is also available for watercraft. If a mistake is obvious, it is quite possible that an adjustment can be made during this meeting. When reviewing the property record card, ask yourself if this is really your property. Check the size, condition, age, and characteristics. The staff can define and explain these details. The next step is to file an appeal. This guarantees that the property owner has a chance to officially challenge the value set by the appraiser. The appeal can be filed at the office, and the staff will provide the necessary form tied to the property. THE APPEAL MUST BE FILED BY AUGUST 7, 2023, AT THE OFFICE. The appeal will be heard by three members of the Board of Equalization in the September/October time frame. They will weigh the evidence provided by the appellant and the appraiser and make a decision of value based on the Preponderance of Evidence. If a new value is determined, it will be in effect for the current year and the following two years. If the appellant does not win, the current value will remain and be frozen for the following two years. The key to a successful appeal is EVIDENCE, EVIDENCE, EVIDENCE. This requires some research into the mass appraisal process the appraiser uses. Generally, the house value is determined by the replacement cost new and depreciation on January 1st of the tax year. Land values depend on characteristics and location. Each lake lot has been rated qualitatively, and sales are used to establish a value. Most of these elements are noted on the property record card, such as heated sq feet, condition, grade, and year built for houses, and dockability, location, water, and view for land. The appraisal staff can provide any of their documents used. Filing for the appeal is a must if you want to have your value reconsidered. It costs nothing, and until your meeting is scheduled, there is really no commitment. There is plenty of time after August 7th to research and build a case. HCPOA will focus on appeal strategy and property elements and their determination at the next meeting on Monday, August 21st.

Marshall Sayer, the chairman of the county Board of Commissioners, was our guest speaker at the June 20 Hart County Property Owners’ Assoc. meeting. The sponsor of the meeting providing the refreshments was Pedego Electric Bikes, located across the street from Ace Hardware. Marshall started out covering 3 subjects. The first was that the property assessments will be mailed out by June 21, and commented that our subject, ASSESSMENTS, for our July meeting, was timely. The second was that the county has purchased and implemented a new system, SCAN, for EMS dispatching. The system will pinpoint the location of a caller even if the call is from a cell phone, not at the caller’s home address. This will significantly speed up getting assistance to someone in need. While on the subject of EMS, Marshall noted that the county has completely recovered from the distress of COVID-19. The county has purchased one new and two used trucks. Certified EMS medics are hard to come by, so the county has hired several persons who can only drive trucks and take vitals, and we are no longer short-handed. The medics got a raise, and the county now covers the cost of additional training for advanced certifications. This has dramatically improved morale, even though some have gone for two years without a vacation. The EMS has three shifts with a total of 12 personnel. The third subject was that the county would ask citizens to vote on a TSPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Sales Tax). This 5-year endeavor would focus on paving some county dirt roads and repairing and paving other roads. Like all other SPLOST programs, the county must share the revenue with the Cities of Hartwell, Bowersville, Royston, and Cannon. Given the poor conditions of many county roads, it is necessary to either take on a TSPLOST or raise the millage rate for property taxes. This TSPLOST would bring the county sales tax to 8%. He pointed out that the existing LOST sales tax dedicated to reducing property taxes effectively reduces our taxes by over three mills. This proposal generated considerable discussion among those members in attendance. All agreed that the roads are in very bad shape and deteriorating. Tom Komatz, a former road builder, talked about losing some roads if they are not repaired soon. He volunteered to survey the conditions of the 500 miles of county roads. There were no negative comments regarding the TSPLOST proposal. In response to a question, the subdivision moratorium is coming up on its second birthday and will expire in July. The commissioners have not yet developed a complete subdivision ordinance, so the moratorium will probably be extended at the next meeting. In response to another question, the county has retained a contractor to perform building inspections on an as-called basis. A contractor is less costly than hiring a county inspector, even though the fee money leaves the county. Join us at our July meeting:

The meeting began with a recap of the previous year's discussion on electric cars (EVs), highlighting the challenges of limited range, high costs, and environmental damage in battery production. Hybrid electrics were seen as a solution to the range issue, but battery cost and manufacturing remained major problems. Tesla was identified as the top-selling EV, with its 1,000-lb battery containing various elements such as lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, copper, aluminum, steel, and plastic. The focus then shifted to the question of where all the required electric power would come from for EVs. It was noted that EVs now account for 3% of US car sales, and federal and state governments are actively promoting their adoption while planning to phase out conventional internal combustion (IC) cars. However, as gas prices have decreased, IC cars currently cost less to operate than EVs. The meeting also discussed the increased incidence of fires and explosions involving EV batteries. The discussion delved into energy units and the current US car population. With 276 million cars registered in the US, approximately 39 million cars are refueled daily, consuming around 379 million gallons of gasoline. This is equivalent to 43.7 trillion BTUs per day or 12.8 million KWH. If all cars in the US were EVs, a staggering 12,800,000 MWH would be required daily for recharging, which would necessitate the construction of 1,609 new power plants the size of the largest nuclear power plant in the world. The meeting concluded by examining the challenges of generating the required power for EVs. Nuclear power was identified as the only viable option due to its capacity, while coal, petroleum, and natural gas plants were deemed unsuitable. Solar and wind power were discussed as "clean" energy sources but faced challenges related to costs, environmental impact, and the availability of resources. Georgia Power was highlighted for its proactive stance on renewable power and assistance with EV charging stations, while Hart EMC was noted to be less active in this area. In summary, the meeting emphasized the need to consider the significant power demands of a growing EV fleet and the limited options available for meeting those demands. The current capacity of Georgia Power was deemed sufficient for short-term EV expansion, but no additional power plant construction beyond existing plans was scheduled. The meeting encouraged individuals to explore practical ways to charge their EVs, considering factors such as power availability, installation requirements, and the limitations of rooftop solar panels. Download the Meeting PowerPoint:

Estate planning strategy was the focus of March’s meeting. One of our board members, Col “Snip” White, USAF, Ret. He was the featured speaker. “Snip” has accumulated knowledge over his lifetime through personal investment experience and post-USAF retirement, employment with MetLife specializing in retirement and estate planning as well as being an Executor of Wills – “last chapter of life” critical counsel. Specifically, he focused on the need for each of us to develop the following three documents and the necessity to review them regularly as various changes occur in life, e.g., marriage, children, divorce, business creation, real estate acquisition, etc. Current Will Durable Power of Attorney Advanced Directive/Living Will/Health Care Power of Attorney Snip defined the elements of each. A Living Will directs your chosen representative to follow your wishes at the final stages of your life. The Will determines who receives the lifetime accumulation of wealth and who will administer the distribution of assets according to the probate laws of Georgia. The Durable POA is for the individual asset owner’s benefit and ensures that when you cannot make decisions, someone you appoint will use your assets to provide for your care. He also included a checklist for the Executor of the estate containing the many administrative details and steps associated with the Probate Court that must be satisfied upon one’s death before the distribution of assets. This checklist should be included with the Will and other financial documents for the Executor. (Recommend the checklist be on top.) For spouses with “I love you” Wills, he encouraged the probate process to be executed for both parties. Snip also stressed the need to consider spousal joint ownership of assets, where appropriate, and document those joint resources like property, bank accounts, mutual funds, etc., to simplify the “first to die” process. Everyone needs a plan to ensure their heirs receive the assets intended for their benefit. Even unmarried parents of minor children need a will that ensures the children receive the resources and have an appointed guardian and conservator. Snip‘s discussion was valuable, with many questions fielded and answered. At the same time, he insisted that these were his personal experiences and the audience should seek an attorney specializing in estate planning. He also volunteered to be available at future HCPOA meetings if further questions arise. The next HCPOA meeting will be on April 17th, when Alan Powell will provide a summary of the 2023 Legislative Session. Social hour starts at 6:30 PM (Sponsored by COUNTRY Financial® Insurance - Agent, Jeff Brown). Become an HCPOA Member Membership in HCPOA provides: A united voice for citizen participation in assuring fair and equitable taxation for all residents of Hart County. Regular monthly meetings with featured speakers, special topics, and sharing of relevant information. Email communication to keep you up to date and informed about Hart County. Periodic special sessions provide members with information about topics of interest in Hart County Assistance concerning property taxation issues and other matters affecting Hart property owners. Excellent networking and socializing opportunities each month at the regular meetings. Our profile and influence will continue to grow as we gain more members. We welcome your interest and involvement.

Hart County Property Owners Association proudly hosted Rep Alan Powell at our April Meeting. As usual, Rep Powell was articulate, comprehensive, and well-versed in what happened at the legislature this session. He emphasized that Georgia is probably the country's most fiscally secure and stable state. The constitutional requirement of a balanced budget and control of borrowing allows the State to take full advantage of the robust economy. That means that the Governor can offer property tax relief to property owners, fully fund QBE, and add salary increases to teachers, first responders, law enforcement officers, and other significant organizations. Additionally, the legislature passed a bill that requires each school to have an approved safety plan that involves local law enforcement officials. Another bill of interest to lake property owners was the requirement of wakeboarders and their boats to remain at least 200' away from shore, docks, and other boats. Enforcement is by the DNR. The social hour preceding the meeting allowed us to interact with Rep Powell and Jeff Brown, Country Financial Agency owner and 4th district commissioner, who sponsored the social hour and provided ample refreshments. All were well received by the attendees. The May meeting will be on Monday the 15th, featuring a presentation on electric vehicles and their effects on the grid and the economy, both local and national, and a preview of what may be coming to the tax digest and property assessments. Social hour begins at 6:30. Become an HCPOA Member Membership in HCPOA provides: A united voice for citizen participation in assuring fair and equitable taxation for all residents of Hart County. Regular monthly meetings with featured speakers, special topics, and sharing of relevant information. Email communication to keep you up to date and informed about Hart County. Periodic special sessions provide members with information about topics of interest in Hart County Assistance concerning property taxation issues and other matters affecting Hart property owners. Excellent networking and socializing opportunities each month at the regular meetings. Our profile and influence will continue to grow as we gain more members. We welcome your interest and involvement.

As a property owner, you are likely aware of the importance of paying property taxes. Property taxes fund essential services such as schools, libraries, and emergency services, and failure to pay property taxes can result in severe consequences such as liens and foreclosure. However, did you know that you can file property tax returns to ensure that your tax assessment is accurate? What Are Property Tax Returns? Property tax returns are forms that property owners can file to report any changes that may affect their property's value. These changes may include additions or renovations to the property, changes in ownership or use, or other significant changes that may affect the property's value. Filing property tax returns allows the tax assessor to update the property's assessment and ensure that the property owner is not paying too much or too little in property taxes. When Can Property Tax Returns Be Filed? Property tax returns in Hart County, Georgia can be filed with the Hart County Board of Tax Assessors between January 1 and April 1 of each year. Filing property tax returns during this time can be helpful if there have been changes to the property that may affect its value. Property owners who file property tax returns by April 1 will also receive a tax notice by April 15. Can Corrections Be Made After Receiving the Tax Notice? If a property owner receives a tax notice and notices any errors or discrepancies, corrections can be made at that time. The tax notice will include information on how to appeal the assessment and request a hearing if necessary. It is essential to review the tax notice carefully and contact the tax assessor's office as soon as possible if any corrections need to be made. Where Can You Find More Information? For more information on property tax returns and assessments in Hart County, Georgia, visit the Hart County Board of Tax Assessors' website at http://hartcountyga.gov/taxassess.html. The website provides information on property tax assessments, appeals, exemptions, and other important information for property owners in Hart County. In conclusion, filing property tax returns is critical for property owners to ensure that their property is assessed accurately and that they are not overpaying in property taxes. By filing property tax returns and reviewing tax notices carefully, property owners can help ensure that they are paying the correct amount of property taxes and avoid any unnecessary penalties or fees.

To better understand the pros and cons of the upcoming ESPLOST initiative, the Hart County Property Owners Association (HCPOA) invited Assistant School Superintendent Brooks Mewborn to present reasons voters might want to vote for it. They asked me to discuss reasons for rejecting it. When HCPOA official Bill Fogerty submitted an article about the meeting to the Hartwell Sun, they refused to print it because they claimed one of my statements was “not factual.” Upon learning this, I called Allen Nesmith, Editor of the local organ, to confirm. He courteously said Mr. Fogerty’s report was correct—no argument from me. The statement Mr. Nesmith found troubling was my claim that money raised by the proposed tax would be spent on schools but that, should voters decide to reject it, the money would stay in the economy, thus helping local businesses. Suppose there is an argument to be made. In that case, some of the money would be spent on online sales, or maybe some would find itself in some investment instrument, but much, if not most, would be spent locally to promote restaurants, retail stores, and other local businesses. I have made this claim for decades on radio, television, and at public meetings and have never had anyone suggest other avenues for the money to take. There are none. The HCPOA graciously offered their members and guests an opportunity to learn about an important issue before the voters of Hart County. Their efforts are noble and should be duplicated by more organizations so voters can understand various opinions. Otherwise, elections will become nothing more than sporting events with winners gloating and losers waiting for the next time. Respectfully submitted, Tom Hardigree

To our Taxpayers. There is as usually considerable confusion about ESPLOST 6 and its real purpose. The "just a penny" campaign somewhat understates the cost of this tax. Think about the pennies you put in a jar after each trip to the store. They add up quickly, don't they? Even the 7% on some food products include those pennies, then add all the billed pennies like phone and power and gas. Hardly any business collects just a penny at a sale. But is this tax generated by the Board of Education focused on academics and education? Superintendent Jennifer Carter, in the Sun article p 8 Thursday 3/2, stressed that finding parking for newly minted 16-year-old drivers was her first priority. To do so, it would be necessary to tear down the maintenance building and build a new edifice on the newly acquired land on Bowman Highway. Don't you wonder how many new drivers there are now and how many more she anticipates? Might there be some land on the campus that could be graveled and used? Maybe parking should be a privilege gained by grade point. Those driving without that privilege could park at the Ag center and be bused to school like Clemson and UGA do. Later in the same article, she focuses on the road near the field house and suggests that the road that must have served for 50 years is too narrow, unsafe, and dark. With the college-caliber gymnasium, upgraded track, and football field, is there a pressing need for a new field house? Have there been significant numbers of accidents on the road? But the solution is to build a new field house, not a new road. The surprising initiation to add a daycare facility in place of the old admin building certainly shocked many members of the HCPOA audience at their February meeting when assoc. Supirintendant Mewborn presented it. He cited teacher retention as a rationale for offering this benefit to teachers. How many are leaving? But which teachers would benefit? For the past few years, hiring seemed to be focused on finding the best, most experienced teachers and paying well. Generally, these teachers would be less likely to have toddlers with such needs. The question of cost was not addressed. Such a facility would undoubtedly require new personnel, perhaps new security, and maintenance. Those costs all go into the annual budget. The idea that this might strengthen the teaching pathway at CCA was raised; perhaps the viability of that pathway reflects a lack of interest in teaching as a profession. Certainly, ESPLOST is a tax-based generating capital construction project, but should not the tie to academics be the first priority rather than parking? The recent study of the Georgia Milestone Assessment Test Ranking by SchoolDigger for 2021/2022 suggests that Hart County is still mired in the middle, with only South Hart breaking out close to the 70th percentile. Lastly, what is the rush for moving right into ESPLOST 6 well before # 5 is finished? One administrator in several BOE meetings last year noted that it would not be prudent to let taxpayers get used to not paying the tax even for a short period. By the way, because the Bd of Education scheduled the vote in March rather than waiting for the regular November election, the school system will pay the total cost for the election. There is also the question of ESPLOST 5 funds. How much is available? The multi-purpose athletic facility near the track was just bid for $1.1 million for a 3000 sq ft building, seemingly replicating some functions already in place by the track. Other funds are available for the rifle range. Another recent question has been what would happen if ESPLOST6 is delayed until Jan 2025, when #5 would reach its calendar end. The regular operations of the school system would continue to utilize its $30-40 million budget. Remember, they just got a $100,000 state grant, and the increasing tax digest brought in an unbudgeted $750,000 because the millage was not reduced accordingly. And did you wonder where that money for the Bowman land came from last fall? and why it took six months to find out the sales price was $509,000? The members of the Bd of Education would not be hiding anything, would they? Back to the question, the tax money would stay in taxpayers' pockets for about 15 months. The result would be $6 to $7 million that probably would be spent in the same retail and business establishments that were collecting the tax in the first place. Might that not be a real boon to the local economy? Remember, most of the construction money will go to bidders out of Hart County. What will happen to construction commitments made if the ESPLOST does not deliver as promised is missing from much of this discussion. There are certainly hints of a recession on the horizon. Board of education members has not shown themselves to be especially creative as managers able to do anything except raise taxes. There are many facets to this new tax; after all, ESPLOST 6 will generate $12,000,000 more than Esp 5. No wonder the Board of Education members don't talk about it publicly.

You may know that a dock electrical system inspection is required when your dock permit is renewed. A State Certified Electrician must perform the inspection. This Corps of Engineers regulation becomes effective March 2. The Corps has provided the following list; however, the names have not been qualified as the list was developed by scanning the Better Business Bureau. We are asking you to help get this list complete and accurate. When you start looking for an inspector, please let us know who is and who is not responsive and what was the quality level and cost of the inspection. We will keep the list current and republish it regularly and have copies available at our monthly meetings. Below is a list of State Certified Electricians local to Hartwell, Georgia.

The focus for the February meeting of the Hart County Property Owners Association was ESPLOST 6. ESPLOST 6 was the focus of the February meeting of the Hart County Property Owners Association. Our goal was to offer speakers for both sides of this tax issue. Brooks Mewborn, associate superintendent of Hart County schools, is always a well-prepared energetic speaker. Tom Hardigree, the well-known talk show host, was our second speaker. Mr. Mewborn offered a brief video documenting the accomplishments of the ongoing ESPLOST 5. Evidently, its last project is being bid for a multi-purpose sports facility at the middle school at $1.1 m. Additionally, he reviewed the process he and Superintendent Carter employed to develop the revenue projections for ESPLOST 6. From that, they developed the list of projects to be funded. ESPLOST 6 will include a bus maintenance facility on the recently purchased land on Bowman Highway, a new administration and professional development center, a new field house, and additional parking at the high school. New construction totals about 16.9 million, and renovations/upgrades to several schools about $9.3 million. Safety and security projects will be around $1.5 m. Perhaps the night's biggest surprise came when Mr. Mew- born announced that the current administration building would be renovated to become a daycare facility, catering primarily to teachers and staff. Personnel numbers and costs are unknown. HCPOA has asked Mr. Mewborn for a complete list of all projects and costs, which we will post on the website and publicize. Mr. Hardigree’s first comment was Vote No. He noted that he does not oppose the idea of another esplost but believes that there is solid basis for at least a short delay. The current esplost had a goal of $18m, which will probably be met in the next six months. With over a year remaining, why not delay the new tax until January 2025? Perhaps then the BOE could publically offer the needs and priorities for the projects. What would be the effect on the HC system if the tax was delayed 15 months? Essentially nothing. The Charter System would still have its normal budget of well over $30 million. In fact, in fall of 2022, they picked up an additional and unbudgeted $750,000 because of the expanding tax digest. Where did the funds go? The old scare that property taxes would rise is really a red herring. Both school revenues and splost have risen over the years. Without splost it would be necessary for BOE members to justify projects on an individual basis and prioritize each. Taxpayers would thus be able to examine in detail where their money was going. Lastly, Mr. Hardigree raised the question of the impact of leaving the monthly collections, currently about $500,000 in the community until January 2025. Essentially that would be an injection of some $7 million into the local economy for all sorts of businesses and retail establishments. Would there be a significant and positive benefit for HC to have that economic boost even for a short 15 months? It is fair to say that there is more to the ESPLOST 6 vote than just pouring money into school construction projects. Perhaps these projects should be considered individually and evaluated for their contribution to academic improvement.

What is an ESPLOST? An ESPLOST is a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for education. It is a one-cent sales tax on all retail purchases. This means that everyone who makes a purchase in the school district county, including visitors, contributes to the support of local schools. The proposed ESPLOST has vague wording with no specific projects identified. 1. $30,580,000 over five years. 2. Acquiring miscellaneous new equipment, fixtures, and furnishings for the school system, including HVAC equipment, technology equipment, software, computer tablets, laptops, and safety and security equipment. 3. Expanding, replacing, renovating, repairing, improving, and equipping existing school buildings and school system facilities, including, playgrounds, athletic facilities, and administrative office facilities. 4. Acquiring, constructing, and equipping new school buildings and school system facilities, including athletic facilities, technological facilities, academic facilities, administrative office facilities, parking facilities, and transportation and maintenance facilities. 5. Acquiring and improving land for school system facilities. 6. Acquiring school buses and transportation and maintenance equipment. 7. Acquiring books, digital resources, and other media for the school system. 8. Issue $7, 000,000 bonds and pay the interest and any issuance fees. Talking points from HCPOA 1. Your HCPOA supported the construction of the College & Career Academy and the Agriculture Center. We are proud of the apparent success of the C& CA. We are sorely disappointed in the lack of utilization of the Ag Center – probably the most underutilized building in Hart County. 2. Where is the value or return on investment of the $90 Million spent over the last 5 ESPLOSTS? There has been no academic improvement beyond the mid-point of Georgia school ranking. 3. Obviously, the funds of the current ESPLOST 5 have not yet been spent as the school is advertising for constructing a “Multi-Sport Athletic Building,” whatever that is? Why are additional funds needed? 4. The school’s administrative staff is bloated and growing, now they want and “Administration Building.” 5. The schools just bought the land. They never revealed what it is to be used for and how much was paid for it. Now they want to buy more land 6. Did we not renovate the school building under ESPLOST 5 and earlier ESPLOSTS? 7. What would happen if this ESPLOST proposition failed? Essentially nothing except a delay Hart County would benefit from a 15-month break on sales taxes worth approximately $7-8 M into the local economy. 8. Why do you want this money now? The Director of Operations stated twice in 2022, “don’t let the taxpayers get used to not paying this tax.” 9. The schools have an insatiable appetite for money They benefited from the exploding tax digest to the tune of $750,000 The operating budget increased to $40 Million raised with an artificially high millage 10. They figured that a new ESPLOST would raise $30 Million and then dreamed up projects to spend the money on. What is your take on ESPLOST? Comment Below.

Hart County Property Owners Association opened the year on Jan 20th with a comprehensive presentation about the College and Career Academy by its new and energetic CEO Steve Burton.Mr. Burton seems to have made all stops in the Hart County school system from grade one through all teaching and administrative ranks to his present position. His enthusiastic overview of the CCA covered the 14 pathways open to students, the most popular being Criminal Justice and Healthcare. Recent additions cover welding and HVAC. A marine mechanics pathway is anticipated for the Fall of 2023. When a student completes at least three courses (pathways), he is awarded a Technical College Certificate which, (while not a degree) offers substantial advantages in hiring and salary upon graduation. Many of the pathways offer paid internships above minimum wage levels and opportunity for future employment. Mr. Burton also emphasized the "soft side" of career education in that there is a need to focus on traits like reliability (particularly for attendance in school, on the job, or at an internship), maintaining a positive attitude, and self discipline. The audience was especially attentive, asking numerous questions about details which made for a very positive evening. One question raised was that of adult education; for example a followup to the welding class offered recently. Evidently a computer education course for adults is being considered. The February HCPOA meeting will focus on ESPLOST.