03 LC 18 2205

Senate Resolution 36
By: Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, Hooks of the 14th, Dean of the 31st, Starr of the 44th and others

A RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to require annual appropriations for homeowner tax relief grants with a benefit equivalent to a homestead exemption of $18,000.00 of the assessed value of a taxpayer´s homestead; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Article VII, Section IIA of the Constitution is amended by striking Paragraph I and inserting in its place a new Paragraph I to read as follows:
"Paragraph I. State grants; adjustment amount. For each taxable year, a homeowner´s incentive adjustment may shall be applied to the return of each taxpayer claiming such state-wide homestead exemption as may shall be specified by general law. The amount of such adjustment may shall provide a taxpayer with a benefit equivalent to a homestead exemption of up to $18,000.00 of the assessed value of a taxpayer´s homestead or the taxpayer´s ad valorem property tax liability on the homestead, whichever is lower. The General Assembly may shall appropriate such amount each year for grants to local governments and school districts as homeowner tax relief grants. The adjustments and grants authorized by this Paragraph shall be made in such manner and shall be subject to the procedures and conditions as may be specified by general law heretofore or hereafter enacted. The annual appropriation mandated by this Paragraph shall not be subject to veto under Article III, Section V, Paragraph XIII(d)."

SECTION 2.

The above proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be published and submitted as provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution. The ballot submitting the above proposed amendment shall have written or printed thereon the following:

"(  )  YES (  )  NO

Shall the Constitution be amended so as to require annual appropriations for homeowner tax relief grants with a benefit equivalent to a homestead exemption of $18,000.00 of the assessed value of a taxpayer´s homestead?"

All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "Yes." All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "No." If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of this state.