House Bill 147 passed the Georgia House of Representatives today.  This bill guarantees that local governments will get the Homestead Tax Relief Grant promised by the Governor and the legislature for 2008.

Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Kathy Brown told AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio that instead of getting the tax relief in one lump sum as originally promised, the county will receive two partial payments.

Representative Barbara Massey Reece told AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio that she did vote for the bill, but that the bill falls short of making sure the tax relief grant is a permanent fixture in state law.  Reece said that the way the current bill is written it is more of a reassurance to local governments that they will receive the 2008 tax relief but doesn’t really change the questionable future of the Homestead Tax Relief Grant.

According to Tax Commissioner Brown, had the house failed to pass the bill she would have been forced to bill out an additional $750,000 in 2008 property taxes to Chattooga County homeowners.