Three Georgia taxpayers have filed a category motion lawsuit difficult the best way that Walker County is funding its hearth and emergency providers. Michael Biddle, Jessica Allison, and Waylon Allison filed go well with in Seventh District Superior Court docket claiming that the general public security price they pay on property they personal in Walker County is an illegally imposed tax.
The general public security price is assessed upon property homeowners based mostly upon square-footage of buildings. Based on the go well with, the price doesn’t correspond to a profit conferred as would a price for a driver’s license or searching license. In truth those that don’t pay the price, equivalent to renters and people touring via the county, get the identical profit as these paying the price, which makes the price, in essence, a tax on property.
The Chattanooga Instances Free Press quoted the grievance as stating:
“The general public security price is an unlawful tax to fund a core authorities capabilities, i.e., firefighting providers and emergency administration providers, together with rescue and first responder medical help and different associated providers, somewhat than an inexpensive price based mostly upon the anticipated price to supply hearth safety providers.”
The Instances Free Press additionally studies that the go well with is certainly one of a number of pending across the state difficult the best way Georgia counties fund hearth and emergency providers. A replica of the grievance is just not accessible however will probably be posted right here if/when it turns into accessible.