City Property Taxes Could Increase

It's decision day on a controversial proposal to hike property taxes in the city of Atlanta.

The city council is expected to vote on a plan that could raise taxes for Atlanta homeowners by about $250 a year.

"The bottom line is that we, the citizens, can't afford a property tax increase. That's just the bottom line," said one Atlanta resident.

The Atlanta City Council will likely face vocal opposition yet again as they consider a controversial plan to raise property taxes.

The mayor's office said the increase is necessary to fill a gaping hole in the city's budget and reverse cutbacks to police, fire and other city services.

"When firefighters schedules were set up on 24-hour rotation, it was never anticipated that we'd be running 15 to 20 calls a day. And this situation is grinding the firefighters in the city of Atlanta into the ground," Atlanta Firefighters' Association President Jim Dawes.

The mayor's office estimates the increase will raise property taxes for the average homeowner roughly $250 a year.

The mayor has slashed nearly than 600 jobs, frozen hundreds of unfilled positions and furloughed police and firefighters.

"When you're paying $10,000 a year in property taxes, you ought to be able to get your water bottles picked up once a week," said tax increase opponent Davis Thomason.

But many residents chafe at the possibility of paying more money for fewer city services. They want the council to come up with a creative solution to the city's budget crisis -- short of raising their taxes.

"I'm just here speaking as one of many. And we are scratching and clawing to get by, to put our kids in better schools, to give them better futures than what I had. And another tax increase? I just can't do it," said Thomason.

All fifteen council members are up for re-election in November, thus adding extra political drama to what's already a difficult policy decision.