Citizens have sent us a bunch of links to help other citizens make sense of the tax hike in North Fulton.  Here are some of the links with commentary.  The links are provided in no particular order.

Following is 11 Alive news clip on tax hikes.  State Senator Albers has taken up the fight for Milton residents and cites his own tax assessment as proof that something has gone terribly wrong at the Fulton Tax Assessor’s office.

11 Alive: Fulton Leaders Spar Over Tax Hike

Following is a story that was published at the Alpharetta Patch.  John Albers will be hosting a meeting on June 19th with citizens at Roswell City Hall.

Alpharetta Patch: Town Hall Meetings Scheduled

Following is a link to Senator John Alber’s government website.  Albers gets it and describes the situation pointedly:  the process is broken.  Why aren’t other North Fulton leaders stepping up and advocating for citizens?

State Senator Albers: Process is Broken

It is insulting for local leaders to advise citizens to appeal their tax assessments.  Clearly, the tax assessment process is broken.  We need to fix the problem, not shift the burden to taxpayers in the way of appeals.  We all know that Fulton County is going to be flooded with appeals.  The backlog will stretch into eternity.

Johns Creek Patch: Local Leaders Urge Citizens to Appeal

Following is another Johns Creek Patch story.  Statistics are provided for Cobb and Gwinnett Counties, which have levied comparable increases.  Such comparisons are irrelevant.  Milton citizens have intentionally chosen not to live in those counties.  Also, using averages misses the central point:  that Milton is bearing the brunt of the Fulton Country tax increase.  In some areas, average valuations have increased more than 50%, with some specific homes/properties seeing increases of more than 100%.

Johns Creek Patch: 2017 Tax Assessments Sent Out

Following is an 11Alive story on appealing your property tax assessment.  We love John Eaves statement that Fulton County is “a victim of its own success . . . the quality of life has improved in many areas and as a result, our real property values have gone up.”  Were but it were true.  Mr. Eaves needs to experience the traffic congestion and school overcrowding up here in Milton and then maybe reconsider that statement.  Mr Eaves seems to be giving himself an (undeserved) pat on the back at the same time that he sticks it to Milton taxpayers.

Mr. Eaves Pats Himself on Back While Sticking It to Milton Taxpayers

Following is link to WSB story on tax hike for Milton taxpayers.  We hope Bob Ellis starts advocating more strongly for his constituents.

WSB Story: Includes Questions to Bob Ellis

Here is a link from Milton Nextdoor where residents are providing advice on appealing property tax assessments.

Milton Nextdoor: Advice on Property Tax Appeals from Other Milton Citizens

Here is Fulton County’s web page on Property Tax Appeals.

Fulton County Webpage on Appealing Your Taxes

Here is an 11Alive story that actually shows maps that are shaded to show the percentage increase in valuations for particular areas of Fulton County.

11Alive: Taxes to Increase More than 50% for Some

Here is another 11Alive news story.  John Eaves is feeling the backlash and is reversing his position.  He is now calling for a freeze on tax assessments, but will have to convince the Board of Assessors.  A freeze would mean that 2016 assessments would be the basis for 2017 property taxes.  This is not a done deal.  Citizens need to keep up the pressure; it is working.

Eaves Calls for Freeze on Property Tax Assessments

Following is an excellent story on neighbors banding together to fight the tax increase.  Click on the WSB video to get the story.

Neighbors Band Together to Fight Taxes

Here is one more story from the AJC

Property values to rise steeply in much of Fulton County