That was the overwhelming response to our recent poll asking, “Are you For or Against the use of TADs” in redevelopment projects in the Smyrna Vinings community. Over 50% of the respondents didn’t vote for or against, rather they didn’t know what a TAD (Tax Allocation District) is. Which is rather perplexing given how much press there has been over tax allocation districts, tax increment financing, etc. over the last few months.

With the Georgia Supreme Court ruling in February, tax allocation districts in Georgia, as we know them, got a giant roadblock. TADs have been a huge point of contention in the area as the City of Smyrna has been trying to use them for Jonquil Village and Belmont Hills.

The state politicians were quick to act on this issue and actually managed to get approved an additional referendum for the November ballot that will allow the voters to have a say in the matter. So I guess we’ll be doing some more education on the matter in the coming months.

Technorati Tags: Tax Allocation Districts, Tax Increment Financing, City of Smyrna, Jonquil Village, Belmont Hills

Well, since TADs are going to be a big topic going forward for the next few months, we thought that should be the latest community poll.

We want to know if you’re for or against the use of Tax Allocation Districts in the Smyrna Vinings area. As we’ve mentioned before TADs allow cities to issue bonds for redevelopment work which will be paid by the incremental property taxes created after the project is redeveloped.

In February, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that it was a violation of the Georgia constitution to use school taxes (which make up a large portion of property taxes) in TADs. There are several groups now working to create a referendum on the November ballot so you the voter can choose whether to change this law.

To learn more about TADs, check out the recent post on the TAD Resource Center.

In Smyrna, the use of TADs will have a large impact on the Jonquil Village project and the upcoming Belmont Hills project.

So what we’d like to know is if you are for, against, undecided or still don’t know what a TAD is.

So cast your vote on the Poll located on the left sidebar.

Technorati Tags: Smyrna Vinings Redevelopment, TADs, Tax Allocation Districts, Jonquil Village, Belmont Hills

[where: 30080]

May 26, 2008: Memorial Day : Admission: free

Memorial Day at 20th Century Veterans Memorial. You are invited to the 2008 City of Smyrna Memorial Day Ceremony - 10:00 a.m. at the 20th Century Veterans Memorial. (Ceremony begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. in the Heart of Smyrna, Georgia)

The Smyrna ceremony is organized by members of the community and it is those members of the community who officiate. They wish for you to join them on this day to honor and appreciate sacrifices and our commitment to peace through strength and sacrifice.

Check www.smyrnacity.com for updates about this event. Seating is unassigned but limited and is expected to start as early as 9:00 a.m. and end at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.

Spring Jonquil Festival around the Smyrna Village Green.

Sat., April 26 –10a.m.-6p.m.; Sun., April 27 – 12 p.m. – 5p.m.

Shop the arts and crafts market and experience a wide selection of festival foods as you stroll downtown at Smyrna’s Spring Jonquil Festival. Be sure to visit the Featured Artists Market.

Free admission. 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, 30080.

Technorati Tags: Smyrna Vinings Events, Spring Jonquil Festival, Smyrna Village Green

Smyrna residents may reserve a table for one or all of the City of Smyrna Summer Concert Events and get ready to party:

May concert-May 17 ($20);

June concert-June 14 ($20);

Dance Night-July 12 ($20);

Birthday Celebration-Aug. 2 ($25).

Reservations must be made in person at the Community Center–200 Village Green Circle–on Mon., April 14, 2008 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

[where:  30080]

If you purchased a home last year in Cobb County, including Smyrna, Vinings, Marietta, Mableton, Austell, Kennesaw and Acworth, you may want to hurry up and file for your Homestead Exemption. While you can file at any time during the year, you must file by March 1st to claim the Homestead Exemption for this year.

The Homestead Exemption reduces homeowners’ property taxes. To qualify, the homeowner must apply for this exemption on or before the filing period ends.  Once granted, this exemption is automatically renewed each year as long as you continually occupy the home under the same ownership.

The home must be your primary residence. You cannot file for homestead exemption on rental property, vacant land or on more than one property. In addition to basic homestead exemption there are additional exemptions for residents age 62 and older and/or disabled and disabled veterans. You must apply for these exemptions in person in most cases.

Homeowners who meet the regular Homestead Exemption requirements are entitled to a $10,000 exemption in the county general and school general tax categories. The regular Homestead Exemption was worth $257.70 in 2007.

As a result of the Homeowner’s Tax Relief Grant Program enacted by the Governor and the General Assembly of the State of Georgia, homestead property receives a tax credit each year which is reflected on the property tax bill.

The Cobb County Taxpayer Reassessment Relief Act, which affects homestead property that is reassessed, automatically increases the Homestead Exemption amount in the county general tax category by the same amount that the value increases. So while the initial Homestead Exemption results in a $10,000 credit against your assessed value, in subsequent years this credit will increase with any increase in assessed value.

If you have any other Cobb County real estate questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Technorati Tags: Cobb County, Homestead Exemption, Smyrna Real Estate, Cobb County Real Estate

Cobb County and Partners Complete Draft Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP)  

The public is invited to the final Public Information Meeting to mark the completion of the Draft CTP on Thursday, January 24, 2008 between 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm at the Cobb Central Library, 266 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA.

Electronics Recycling Day In Smyrna
Behind City Hall
2800 King Street
Smyrna, GA

(Directions)

A $10 fee will be charged for each portable television.

Items accepted at NO CHARGE:

Console TVs, De-Humidifiers, Freezers, Hair Dryers, Household Trash, Humidifiers, Non-Electric Equipment, Ovens, Power Equipment, Projection TV’s, Refrigerators, Satellite Dishes, Tires, Vacuum Cleaners, and Washers & Dryers

This event is made possible by Atlanta Recycling Solutions, the City of Smyrna, Keep Smyrna Beautiful and Waste Management.  Call 770-431-2863 for more information.

Nike Reuse-A-Shoe

Keep Smyrna Beautiful and Niketown Atlanta are working together to collect shoes for Niketown Atlanta’s latest Reuse-A-Shoe project to rebuild New Orleans playgrounds. They are trying to collect as many shoes as possible to help with this project.

Every year, millions of pairs of athletic shoes are thrown away, clogging landfills and wasting a lot of good material. So Nike has created a solution to allow you to recycle your old shoes! Reuse-A-Shoe, part of their Let Me Play campaign, is one of Nike’s longest-running environmental and community programs, where worn-out athletic shoes of any brand are collected, processed and recycled into material used in sports surfaces like basketball courts, tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds for young people around the world.

You may take your old athletic shoes to the Smyrna Recycling Center at 645 Smyrna Hill Drive during working hours from now until February 17th. They will also be collecting shoes at the “Bring One for the Chipper” at the Vinings Home Depot on January 26th. If you have any questions, call 770-431-2863.