Residents are strongly encouraged to attend the upcoming public hearings on property tax in Muscogee County so their voice may be heard as a citizen and may also contact their respective city council members.

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Several local landlords, residents, and tenants spoke against the city’s proposed property tax increase in hopes of protecting Columbusites from rises in rent.

The conversations happened during the first of three public hearings on the subject, which was held during the city council meeting on June 13.

Local property owners John Anker, Frank Lumpkin, Charles Mordic, and Louis Robinson were accompanied by Columbus resident Madeline Burns and others. Each spoke independently to voice their own individual concerns about how the county’s rising property taxes will negatively impact our community.

Here’s what they each had to say in their own words.

JOHN ANKER

I've asked people to come forward. They don't know what I'm going to say, but they do have concerns and we have concerns. I feel like I don't speak for them, but I wanted to share some concerns I have. 

First off, Mr. Mayor, City Manager, and City Council: I do appreciate your service to our city and it's a hard complex situation that we're in. I want to make a passionate plea right now to get control of our spending. We (the city) have got a budget right now that's $332 million. Just a short time ago, it was 285 million. We only have income coming in of $322 million. So we're going to take 10 million from the fund to sure up the difference. 

I understand that there's a lot of expenses, but I think we've got to get better control of our spending and prioritize where we (the city) are spending it. There's a lot of things we're doing right, and so I'm not here to be critical of all that — but what we're doing is putting that $10 million on the back of a lot of property owners. And when you do that, it affects the rent of individuals.

So we (the city) talk about — we hear the buzzword rent control, costs are going up on individuals in our communities — but no matter which side of town you live on, the businesses who rent buildings to occupy their businesses, their rents are going up because of the tax digest. 

Please — you're voting on keeping the millage the same. We don't call it a tax increase, we say keep the millage the same  — but I'd like us to roll back the millage. 

Let's be good stewards. The government naturally spends 100 percent of everything that it receives, and sometimes they spend more than they receive. So I would like us to be good stewards of our money and roll that tax rate back. That's what I'm asking for.

I'm here today because my property taxes have dramatically gone up. I know this isn't an issue on property taxes, but it does affect our budget and the people who are paying property taxes at fair market value — that's fair, that's me — but my taxes have gone from $66,000 a year to $97,000 in four years. Two of my properties went up 39 and 37 percent respectively. I know that's out of your jurisdiction. I'll appeal. I'll get a fair rate, and I'll be happy to pay my taxes. I'm asking City Council to please be good stewards of our money. Please sure up our spending versus our revenues. Please incent businesses to come and not leave. 

I think we're at a threshold now that some businesses are considering divesting in this community and moving to better marketplaces. We can say that ‘this happens all across the nation, all across the state and other places,’ but that'd be saying ‘this is the way we've always done it.’ 

I'm going to skip ahead because I have a feeling I'll run out of time, but I would like to say that our state as a whole has been the best state to do business for the eighth year running, and there's a reason why we've done that. The state as a whole has been a good steward this past year. They had a two billion dollar surplus and they decided — the legislator did — to give it back to the citizens. And they also did it while they were still incenting other growth. But Columbus has missed many of these opportunities. 

So we need to grow the tax base with more businesses — more small businesses, more people — who are generators and payers. We're happy to pay our taxes, I think. I personally know some people who are trying to divest right now and leave, and that's why I'm here. I want City Council and the citizens to understand the positive and negative effects of what we're doing. So please roll back our taxes. 

Our millage rate solution, number one, is: Incent businesses and don't raise the few taxpayers at such a large percentage to cover inflationary costs. There's something called the Property Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights that was implemented in our state law in 2000 — Senate Bill 177, Act 431 — and it states generally that it's to prevent indirect tax increases resulting from increases to existing property values due to inflation.

We hear a lot of inflation — and I understand that our City's struggling on inflation. 

Solution one: Incent businesses. Solution two: Grow the base — the taxpayer base that's growing the economy. Solution three: Lobby our state and get these things fixed. 

The overall solution and the reason I'm here today is to get the budget under control. $332 million is what we're spending, $322 is what we've got coming in. And we're going to throw cash in there from our $10 million from our fund, and that's going to be on the backs of property owners and taxpayers. It's going to trickle down to the rent payers

The stagnant wage growth: My employees want raises. I'd like to give raises, but I keep giving it out in other areas (like property taxes) and we need to be mindful of that.

Attract business: We have the highest tax rate in the whole state of Georgia on sales taxes, and I believe we're getting dangerously close to having a negative effect. 

(If you) vote Yes to stay the same because ‘we've always done this way’ — to keep the digest where it is — A vote Yes is putting 10 million dollars on the backs of the taxpayers. And I believe it's going to have a negative effect. So please: roll back the millage.

Thank you for listening. I appreciate your service.

FRANK LUMPKIN

I've got tax increases from 52 percent on down. My question to her (Finance Director Angelica Alexander) is: Does the state lock (the city’s) tax digest if you don't raise (the millage rate)?

Finance Director Angelica Alexander: That question would be, no. I mean, the answer to your question would be no, they don't lock the digest.

Lumpkin: But they can though, can’t they?

Alexander: Well they can (choose to) not approve the Digest, if we don't do all of the requirements that are set forth by the state in terms of approval of the digest — which includes these hearings — then they could not approve the Digest.

CHARLES MORDIC

I'm a small-time landlord here in Columbus, so I'm in the trenches every day. I'm born and raised here; I know my tenants, and they know me. We're friends. So I'm coming here on their behalf, pretty much, because unfortunately — unlike the last increases — these increases are going to have to be passed down to them, because we can't incur this type of raise.

One property in particular that I've got — it's 20 units on Crystal Drive, it’s quadruplexes — but the people that are in there: they're good folks, and they're older folks, and in a lot of cases they're on fixed income. And I know them, and it breaks my heart that I'm going to have to sit here and tell them that I've got to pass these taxes on to them.

It’s going from $16,000 this past year on these apartments to $26,800 — in one year — and they can't take anymore. They're already paying high gas prices, they're paying, and everything's through the roof. They've already told me. I've had several of them have moved — and they're going to continue to move, because — unlike other cities — Columbus is a border town, really. 

We're in Phenix City, and they — I feel that they are taking themselves and their tax dollars and over to Alabama where gas is cheaper, the taxes are cheaper, and rent is cheaper. That's just what I hear, like I said, being in the trenches. 

So every one of my properties have gone up — and I will appeal, of course — but just letting you guys know what's happening with the folks out there. Thank you.

MADELINE BURNS

I've lived here for five years. I chose this city because it just seemed like the best city. I didn't want to live in the North. I've lived in Los Angeles, D.C., Charleston, I've lived Atlanta. I've lived in many places and I chose this city because one of my friends said this city has a lot of growth coming. So let's work on growth.

I'm recently retired. I have neighbors — she's 86 years old, one lady's in her 80s. She's a retired teacher. So consider these people. I mean, I'm looking at this and I'm freaking out at buying two 2023 Chevrolet Silverados. Why not (have the city) buy 2022, 2021? Like, I would consider that I don't need a current vehicle; as soon as you drive it off the lot it drops. So consider that when you (the city) are buying things, don't think like ‘I've got a bottomless wallet’ — because you're picking the money out of my wallet and my 86 year old neighbors, and we're on fixed income. 

I'm on a fixed income and I recently retired. Now, I have to consider getting a job. I can do it, I'm going to be 68 next August, and I can work another job. I'm cool with that. But I worry about my neighbors. So work on that. Be mindful of how you spend the money.

Last year, I bought a bottle of lemon scented ammonia. It was a dollar. I bought it earlier this year and it’s $1.69. I bought it last week it's $2.00, okay? So we're drowning in this inflation.

So do what you can, because you guys have the power. You have the ability. You have the mind. You have the authority. Use it to help us. Help these citizens. Help my 86 year old neighbor. Please. If I have to beg, I will. I will beg. Consider us, because some people are going to choose to pay their property taxes or turn the heat off or take cold baths.

Think about that. This is real. This is not pretend. 

It's my first time coming to a council meeting and I'm going to attend more — but I am going to speak up. I will always be respectful just like I expect you to be respectful — which you have been — and I do appreciate that. 

Thank you for your service — but please: Be mindful. We are not a bottomless pit. This is not ‘The Bank of Madeline Burns.’ 

Please. Please. 

Thank you.

LOUIS ROBINSON

I'm a landlord also. Mainly, here, I didn't know what to expect to come to this hearing, but now as I see what it's all about, the first gentleman (John Anker) has I think everything that we all could absorb from this. If we're taking $10 million and putting it on the backs of the tenants — really, basically here —  because as a homeowner, of course we have homestead exemption — but also, I get phone calls every day for houses I don't have that used to be what would be — according to most rents — affordable housing. 

We don't have any affordable housing coming online in Columbus that I'm aware of, and I work in a lot of areas, too — and with people that are becoming in the homeless situations that they're having. 

The landlords in this — lower rents, I've got both of a little bit of everything — owning’s always going to go up in this type situation. If we're using $10 million to plug a hole, we shouldn't be putting it on the people that we are least able to help. Because if you were having it — if y'all are aware of really what affordable housing is coming online, then that some we don't know.

I've looked through all that, and there is not any really, other than government programs in which I participate in also in helping other ways.

But the main thing is: the rent situation is not going to get any better. I've got 13 properties that I already know of that I've already got the tax increase on that I'm going to have to fight again. I fought some last time when we went to the new system. I had 18 properties I ended up in those cases. I won all 18 of them, but I don't think this time that I'll win these next 13, because the comps are not as realistic as you think. 

If you've got rent somewhere between $700 and $1,000 you're going to be now more at $1,000 up to $1,200 because of this great tax increase.

If I could sell those 13 houses for what they’ve so-called been ‘appraised’ on, I'd get out of being a landlord.

I think that the appeal is: what effect is this really going to have on affordable housing? And I think, when you think about that, and if the city has a position on that, let us hear it. Because when you can't get more housing coming online, what's going to happen to the people? Like the lady (Madeline Burns) says, you know, they're going to come out of pocket for it. They're not going to have an increase in income, I'm sure. It’s a situation that I think is very serious, and this is the only opportunity I think we have that we can hear really: what is your stand going to be on this? 

Thank you for your service, and thanks for your time.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Raising property taxes raises rents. Raising rents makes people poorer. Making people poorer is bad. Doing bad things ruins our city.

This really isn’t a difficult concept to understand, guys.

Let’s do the right thing, council. Shall we?

Let's roll back the millage rate instead of ripping $10 million more from the pockets of our city’s tenants.

Residents are strongly encouraged to attend the upcoming public hearings on property tax in Muscogee County so their voice may be heard as a citizen and may also contact their respective city council members.

You can watch the entire public hearing through the city’s CCG TV Youtube channel here, beginning at the 00:04:57 mark of the video:

Facts are stubborn things — and we’ll keep publishing them, whether city officials like them or not.

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