The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to approve CEO Michael Thurmond’s $1.5 billion FY2022 budget which includes a 6.25 percent increase in compensation for eligible sworn public safety personnel, making the pandemic front-line pay permanent for these employees.
The FY22 budget will maintain the benchmark millage rate for unincorporated DeKalb at 20.810 mills and remain structurally balanced, protecting the county’s $128 million rainy-day funds. For the second year in a row, DeKalb homeowners will also receive 100 percent property tax relief on taxes levied countywide due to the proceeds of the Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax (EHOST) credit.
Here is a link to highlights of the budget: https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/sites/default/files/users/user3568/BOC%20FY22%20Budget%20Presentation%202022.02.22.pdf
DeKalb County Tax Commissioner encourages homeowners to apply for Homestead Exemptions
Homeowners in DeKalb County are encouraged to apply online for basic homestead exemptions before the April 1 deadline. Homestead exemptions provide a reduction in annual property taxes and are available to individuals who own and occupy the home in the county, including the City of Atlanta portion in DeKalb.
“Homestead exemptions provide significant savings for property owners who own and live at their primary residence,” says DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson. “I encourage homeowners who do not have an existing homestead exemption to contact my office or visit our website to review their exemption status. Applications for basic exemption may be submitted online, by mail, in person or drop box.”
Individuals applying for the first time must own and occupy the home as their primary residence as of Jan. 1, 2022, have all vehicles registered in DeKalb County, file income taxes from the property, and not have a homestead exemption anywhere else. Applications received after April 1 will be processed for the following year. For all exemptions, eligibility, and document requirements, please visit www.dekalbtax.org/exemptions.
Homeowners are only required to apply once for a basic exemption. Once an exemption has been granted, it remains in place as long as the applicant continues to reside on the property, or until a different exemption is applied for and received. Homeowners may check their exemption status by reviewing their property information online at dekalbtax.org/property-information.
In addition to the basic homestead exemption available to all homeowners, special tax exemptions are also available for eligible senior citizens ages 62 and older, disabled residents, disabled veterans or surviving spouse, surviving spouse of a U.S. service member, and surviving spouse of a peace officer or firefighter. Age and income requirements must be met to qualify for all senior exemptions.
Basic homestead applications may be submitted online at dekalbtax.org/file-homestead-exemption, by mail, drop box, or in person. Senior and disabled exemptions must apply in person, by mail, or by drop box, and present Federal and State income tax forms, social security 1099 forms, proof of age, and/or proof of 100% total and permanent disability.
The popular Click2Skip program is available for homeowners interested in same-day walk-in service or an appointment. To join the same-day waitlist, please visit https://dekalbtax.org/same-day-wait-list. To schedule an appointment in advance, visit https://dekalbtax.org/appointments, click the Property Tax button and select an available date. Appointments may also be scheduled by calling 404-298-4000.
For more information about homestead exemptions, how to apply or to schedule an appointment, visit www.dekalbtax.org, or contact the DeKalb Tax Commissioner’s Office at 404-298-4000 or proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov.
Commissioner Patrick hits the ground running as the newly elected Presiding Officer
On January 11, 2022, I was honored to be elected by the Board of Commissioners (BOC) to serve as the new Presiding Officer. With the start of the Georgia General Assembly and the redistricting process underway, we have gotten off to a very busy year.
My first official duty was to select committee chairs and members, which were announced on January 25th. Also, each year, the BOC establishes a list of legislative priorities that are considered by the DeKalb Legislative Delegation. As the presiding officer, I was responsible for presenting these priorities to the DeKalb House and Senate Delegation on January 26th and February 10th, respectively.
This year marks the decennial process for redrawing electoral lines. Every ten years following the federal decennial census, all federal, state, and local election district boundaries must be revised to ensure elected representation reflects any population changes over the past decade. On February 8th, my fellow commissioners and I voted unanimously on supporting DeKalb’s general and super district maps that were approved by the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office (LCRO). Furthermore, I was required to attend a series of Delegation presentations and public hearings on the matter.
Finally, the National Association of Counties (NACo) kicked off its 2022 Legislative Conference in D.C. from February 11th-17th. During the weeklong conference, I spent time on Capitol Hill and was afforded the opportunity to meet with federal agencies and members of Congress to advocate for and pitch DeKalb County projects for federal support.
