Fulton tax bills to be mailed soon after many delays

By D.L. Bennett

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Fulton County’s much delayed tax bills look like they will finally be mailed by the end of October. County officials are shooting for a mailing date as soon as Oct. 15.

The timing is critical because payments are due 60 days after the mailing date. So, the later they are sent out, the closer the due date comes to falling after Dec. 31. The delays have already put a cash-flow strain on local governments straining under the worst recession in decades. Any date beyond year’s end would push many payments into 2010.

That could leave governments unable to repay tax anticipation notes that are due by Dec. 31. And taxes paid in 2010 also would not allow homeowners to take a write-off on 2009 taxes.

Fulton tax assessors and Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand have been squabbling for weeks over the county’s tax digest, delaying its approval and the mailing of bills. Officials say that’s all been worked out now. Still, it will take the county four to six weeks to prepare, print and mail bills. On Aug. 24, the Fulton County Superior Court issued a temporary collection order, which allows the tax commissioner to bill 2009 property taxes using the approved 2009 millage rates and 2009 property values. Parcels with valuations under appeal will be billed at 85 percent of their value pending the settlement of their appeals.

The Fulton County tax commissioner collects property taxes for Fulton County, the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools, and many of the other cities within Fulton County.