Augusta Commissioners are waiting to review a new ordinance designed to fight dilapidated structures within Augusta-Richmond County.
Commissioners have instructed the law department to draw up an ordinance for elected officials to review. An ordinance addressing blight in Macon is being used as a road map for a local ordinance.
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According to the Macon-Bibb County website, they have what is called a “Community Redevelopment Tax Incentive Program.”
The ordinance has specific criteria spelling out how “blight” is defined. A property is considered blighted if it meets two or more of the definitions. Those include a structure that is uninhabitable, unsafe, or abandoned structure, if there is inadequate ventilation, light, air or sanitation and if the owner fails to bring it up to code standards within one year after receiving written notice of the code violation.
A request for inspection must be made by a public officer, or at least five residents of Macon-Bibb County. Following the inspection, a written report is prepared, and the property owner notified in writing. The owner has 30 days to file a request for a hearing in Municipal Court where the public officer must present evidence proving the blighted condition of the property. The judge will rule if the property meets the definition of blight. The property owner has the right to file an appeal with Superior Court.
The ordinance also spells out the penalty on property identified in a blighted condition, “An increased ad valorem tax by applying a factor of seven (7.0) to the millage rate applied to the property, so that such property shall be taxed at a higher millage rate than generally applied in Macon-Bibb County.”
The property owner can work with the Economic and Community Development department to develop a plan to make repairs and bring the property up to code standards. A building inspector will determine if repairs meet code standards. If it does the blight designation is removed.
The ordinance also includes an incentive for property owners to make repairs, and a temporarily lowered property tax rate to help recover repair costs.
The city of Dublin has been addressing the problem of blight for several years now with a “blight tax”.
In a review, it was found the city of Dublin’s ordinance is worded the same as Macon’s for what constitutes blight, how it is reported, the hearing process and seven mill tax increase as a penalty. The property owner also has the right to make repairs, have the designation lifted and get a temporary tax break to recover repair costs.
COPY OF CITY OF DUBLIN BLIGHT ORDINANCE.
The Augusta website cites the International Property Maintenance Code which is currently used to address code violations in the city.
“This code establishes minimum standard for occupancy. It is construed to secure the beneficial interest and purposes thereof which are public safety, health and general welfare through structural strength, stability, sanitation, adequate light, ventilation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards. This code is used most often when a tenant or other person is occupying a residential structure.”
The international code is also cited on other government websites in Georgia including Cornelia, Fayette County and even the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
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Augusta’s efforts to find a solution for blight pre-dates the consolidation of the City of Augusta and Richmond County in 1996.
Commission Brandon Garrett said it is time, “We have to make sure we cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s as we proceed to make sure we can legally protect the city while we help this long, ongoing problem.”
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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