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Finance
Department of Finance
City Hall
745 Forest Parkway
Forest Park, GA 30297
Phone: 404-366-4720
Fax: 404-608-2344
Email: mblandenburg@forestparkga.org
Contacts:
Director - Mike Blandenburg
Assistant Director - Joyce Whitfield
Property Tax; Residential Sanitation Billing -
Shamonda Phillips
Business Licenses - Barbara Dunn
Commercial Sanitation Billing -
Debra Brandenburg
Citations - Nekeeta Davis
Accounts Payable - Michelle Dorsey
Mission Statement:
To administer the financial affairs of the City in a responsible and fiduciary manner and provide a customer-oriented support service to citizens, City Departments, agencies and those doing business in the City.
Responsibilities:
The Finance Department is responsible for billing and collection of revenue from property taxes, business licenses, sanitation services, miscellaneous other permits, and citations issued by the Police Department. The Finance Department collects revenues totaling approximately $15,000,000 per year. The Department is also responsible for the weekly payroll of 230 City employees. An annual City Budget is prepared, with oversight by the City Manager. A monthly budget report is provided to all departments as a tool for monitoring expenditures. The Finance Department coordinates the annual audit of the City. The City's Deferred Compensation Plan is also administered by the Department.
Achievement:
The City has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 25 consecutive years. The Certificate of Achievement is a prestigious national award recognizing conformance with the highest standards for preparation of local government financial reports.
Charts:
2005-2006 General Fund Revenue Budget
2005-2006 General Fund Expenditure Budget
Property Taxes
The Finance Department is responsible for the billing and collection of property taxes for the City government. Property tax bills provide the map number, description and street address, fair market value, taxable value, tax rate and tax amount for property.
The 2006 property tax millage rate is 6.593 mills.
The City of Forest Park does not have a school tax. Residents of the City pay school taxes to the Clayton County Board of Education.
Property tax bills are normally prepared and mailed in mid October. Taxes are due 60 days after the mail date. If you own property in Forest Park and do not receive your tax bill during this time period, please contact the Finance Department at 404-366-4720. Failure to receive a bill does not relieve property owners of the responsibility to make payment by the due date.
Property tax payments may be mailed to the City of Forest Park, P.O. Box 69, Forest Park, Georgia 30298. Payments may also be made in person at City Hall, 745 Forest Parkway, during normal business hours (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday).
The City accepts cash, check, money order or credit card payments.
If your taxes are included in your mortgage payments, please send a copy of the property tax bill to your mortgage company. The City of Forest Park does not send a duplicate copy to mortgage companies; the original bill is sent directly to the property owner.
If you are a new owner and receive a tax bill in the previous owner's name, please make the appropriate changes on your bill. You will also need to notify the Clayton County Tax Commissioner's office of the correction. They can be contacted at 770-477-3311.
Homestead Exemption
Each homeowner resident of the City of Forest Park as of January 1st is eligible for an exemption from property taxes. The exemption provides a reduction to the assessed value of the homestead. An application form, available at City Hall, is required to be completed, stating that the applicant owns the house and lived in it on January 1st of the taxable year. Homestead exemptions are not automatically granted when residential property is purchased.
The following exemptions are offered by the City for application, for homeowners living in the home on January 1st of the taxable year:
Regular Exemption ($1,000) - Application is made one time only and is applied to property each year unless there is a change.
Age Exemption ($10,000) - Homeowner who is 65 years of age or older before January 1st, and income does not exceed $15,000. Do not include: Social Security, Survivor, Disability Income, or retirement. Include only income from work.
Disability Exemption ($10,000) - Homeowner who is totally disabled. This application is made one time only and must be accompanied by a letter from a licensed physician stating TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY.
Veterans Disability Exemption ($50,000) - Homeowner who served in a period of war, and is TOTALLY DISABLED by one of the following: Loss of or loss of use of both lower extremities, blindness, inability to move around under one's own power, etc. This exemption requires a letter of eligibility from the Veteran's Administration.
Additional Regular Exemption ($150,000 for 2006) - This application is made one time only and is automatically renewed each year as long as the owner occupies the residence as a homestead.
Business Licenses
Every business located within the City of Forest Park shall apply for and obtain a business license prior to conducting business. Applications are available at City Hall.
The license shall be issued on an annual calendar year basis, for fees (occupation tax) based on a combination of gross receipts for the previous year, and number of employees. An administrative fee is also charged. Business licenses must be renewed annually. No business license shall be issued or renewed unless all City taxes, sanitation fees and other assessments have been paid prior to payment of the annual license fee.
Licenses for alcoholic beverages, pawnshops, and other privilege licenses are subject to additional requirements. Additional information is available at City Hall, or call 404-366-4720.
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