Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. is proposing a program aimed at giving landlord’s a property tax break while the federal eviction moratorium prevents evictions for some tenants who do not pay rent.
Davis requested an added agenda item Feb. 16 during the Richmond County Commissioners meeting. He asked commissioners to authorize that Administrator Odie Donald, the Finance Department and other relevant departments to conduct a 30-day to 45-day study into the impact and implementation of a proposal that would grant landlord’s a reduction in property taxes.
The proposed program, offering up to a 15 percent tax break, would coincide with the federal eviction moratorium, currently set to expire March 31, 2021.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ordered the temporary renter protection beginning Sept. 4, 2020, under the Public Health Service Act. It prevents evictions based on non-payment during the pandemic. President Joe Biden extended the moratorium through the month of March during his first week in office.
[adrotate banner=”28″]
Davis asked that the review team investigate the legalities and feasibility of giving the tax break, along with the financial impact to the community.
“Over the course of the pandemic, we assisted residents at the federal, state and local level, most recently approving crucial emergency financial assistance to families at risk of losing housing and on the verge of homelessness,” Davis said in a Feb. 17 statement. At the federal level, the eviction moratorium was extended to further help those unable to pay their rent.”
Recently, the Commissioners approved $6 million dollars in rental assistance along with alcohol license fees waivers. Davis believes the proposed property tax relief will assist landlords’ who provided affordable housing during the pandemic and did not evict tenants who failed to pay rent.
“As we continue to work through the challenges of our current situation, we should also consider support for those on the other end of eviction moratoriums and work to provide them with pandemic relief,” Davis said.
Davis said he is hopeful the Administration Committee will authorize the review during their next meeting Feb. 23.
Shellie Smitley is a staff writer for The Augusta Press. Reach her at shellie@theaugustapress.com
[adrotate banner=”20″]
