Page 29 - Georgia Forestry - Fall 2017

AERIAL SPECIALISTS, INC
Providing forestry, aquatic and right-of-way aerial and ground applications for over 30 years.
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stand how Georgia compares to other states and what the fiscal impact would be to local communities of any changes to our tax structure. In general, 60 percent of the collected property tax revenues goes to school systems (School Digest) and the rest goes to local govern- ments for maintenance and operations (M&O Digest)2.
Most of the local school systems rely heavily on property taxes to fund their operations. Statewide, about 40 percent of school district revenue comes from local property taxes. Although in 2015 annual timberland property taxes gen- erally account for about three percent of the total property taxes3, any change in the tax structure may still have implica- tions for local school and government revenues and operations.
For counties with significant forest- land acreage, this fiscal impact analysis is especially essential. This information is critically important as the Association seeks to address this tax challenge in a sustainable, collaborative and mean- ingful way.
Even with the pressures of population growth and urbanization, Georgia’s tim- berland can continue to be a source of prosperity for our state, but it is critical that we have a tax system that supports our state’s working forests and all the communities that depend on them.
BOB IZLAR IS DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA HARLEY LANGDALE, JR. CENTER FOR FOREST BUSINESS AND DR. YANSHU LI IS FOREST ECONOMICS AND TAXATION OUTREACH SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA WARNELL SCHOOL OF FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES. BOTH ARE LOCATED IN ATHENS, GA.
1) Izlar, Bob and Yanshu Li. 2017. Property
tax incentives for the Georgia landowners. University of Georgia Center for Forest Business Research Note No. 3, Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. 2) Georgia Department of Revenue. 2016. Property Tax Administration 2016 Annual Report. Web: https://dor.georgia.gov/sites/dor.georgia. gov/files/related_ files/document/LGS/ Property%20Tax%20Digest/Annual_Reports/ PT_annual_2016.pdf 3) Davis, Elton and Isabel Ruthotto. 2015. Financing Georgia’s schools: a 2015 briefing. The Center for State and Local Finance, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia. Web: http://cslf.gsu.edu/files/2015/10/ Financing-Georgias-Schools_October-2015.pdf
DIG. SAFELY. Online Phone
Providing Comprehensive Forest Management, Appraisal, Consultation, and Real Estate Services Since 1970
Experience Knowledge Stability Reliability
717 North Avenue • Macon, GA 31211
www.frc.us.com
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