Twice a year county tax bills coming in Hall

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioners Monday looked over the format for new twice a year tax bills and one commissioner wants a change.

Commissioner Scott Gibbs says he did not support twice a year bills but the voters said twice they wanted it so its going into effect with Thursday's vote

Tax payment deadlines are October 1st and December 1st, with a penalty if taxpayers don't make their first installment.

"If they don't pay at least half of their property tax October 1st they will be assessed a penalty," Gibbs said. "What I want to show is that if they wait to make the full payment in December how much they would actually owe with the interest and penalty."

Gibbs added that tax bills are printed August 1st and taxpayers may pay all their taxes when they receive the twin bills in that one mailing.

"The difference between Hall County and the City of Gainesville is the city's bills are not mandatory," Gibbs said. "You don't have to pay on October 1st, you have until their due date in December."

MPO PROJECT LIST

Hall County Commissioners got a preview of what's coming up at Tuesday's Gainesville Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting with a look at roadway projects that could go on a list to be approved next year by the voters under the Transportation Investment Act.

The act was passed by the General Assembly last year; MPO spokesman Srikanth Yamala said just 11 of Hall County's 25 projects could run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

"The way the economy is we can expect anywhere from $250 to $300-million over a 10 year period if it passed in 2012," Yamala said.

The MPO presents the 2040 Transportation plan at its public meeting at the Georgia Mountains Center Tuesday. The act calls for a regional sales tax to pay for projects instead of shrinking revenues from the state's motor fuel tax.