HTRG Outreach Resources Now Available

 

ACCG knows that local officials are concerned about the public’s response to an increase in property tax bills as a result of the elimination of the Homeowners’ Tax Relief Grant credit.  In some areas, increases in the millage rate or changes the fair market value of property may have also impacted assessments.  ACCG has developed several tools to help you explain these changes to the public. 

 

As part of these communications tools, ACCG has developed and launched a new website, www.FactsAboutPropertyTax.com.  This website was designed to provide additional information about property taxes to Georgia citizens.  Initially, the focus is on the elimination of the Homeowners’ Tax Relief Grant program.  However, as other property tax issues arise, this website will be updated and promoted through the media and other efforts.

 

The following communications tools are available for counties:

 

Tax Bill Insert - This double-sided tax bill insert explains the elimination of the Homeowners’ Tax Relief Grant credit and how a tax bill is calculated.  It is designed for tax bills that are mailed in a standard #10 envelope.  You can provide information specific to your county by filling in the highlighted information or delete bullets that do not apply to your county.  A local printer or the mailing house that sends your property tax bills should be able to copy and cut the inserts so that they can be included with your property tax bills.  You can also distribute this information at county offices and other facilities.

 

Press Release - Use this template press release to provide information to your citizens through the local media.  Follow these instructions to finalize the press release:       

 

• Replace the highlighted areas with information specific to your county.  Be sure to select one of the options for the quotes from one of your local officials based on the county’s financial circumstances and delete the other two quotes. 
• Cut and paste the press release text from the word document to your county’s letterhead. 
• Provide this press release to your local media.  You may also want to call your local media to stress the importance of explaining this issue to your local community.

Newsletter Article - If your county produces a newsletter for citizens, this ready-made article can be inserted into an upcoming issue.  You can also provide this newsletter article to other organizations in your county (Parent-Teacher Organizations, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.) to provide information to their members through newsletters or websites.

 

Television Public Service Announcement - This 30-second public service announcement can be used on your county website or county television station or provided to your local cable or television stations.  You can link directly to the television public service announcement provided here from your website.  In order to use the public on your county television station or with your local cable or television stations, you will need to get a master tape.  The end of the public service announcement also can be localized with your county's contact information. 

The cost of the generic master tape is $50.  The cost to have a master tape localized for your county is $100.  Additional copies of either tape may be ordered for $25 each.   Follow the steps below to get the master tape for use on television stations:

 

• Contact Jason Martin at Radar Productions at (770) 725-8383 or info@radarproductions.com.  All master tapes will be provided in widely-accepted mini-DV format unless otherwise requested. 
• If you want a localized public service announcement, you will need to provide:  1) the phone number for your local Tax Commissioner’s office and 2) the logo and/or name you would like shown under the “brought to you by” section of the public service announcement.  This would be your local government logo or simply your name. For example, "brought to you by the Athens-Clarke County".  To see a sample of the localized public service announcement, click here.
• Be sure to provide an email address so that Radar Productions can send you the public service announcement to approve.  They will also email your invoice to you.  In addition, they will need one physical address to ship the master tape. 
• You may want to contact your local cable or television stations and talk to the public affairs director to see if they are willing to run the public service announcement at no charge before ordering the master tapes.   

Facts About Property Tax Logo – Use this logo on your website and in other county communications to encourage your citizens to go to this website to learn more about property taxes in Georgia.

 

ACCG would like to thank Athens-Clarke County for graphic design and creative assistance in developing the tax bill insert, the television public service announcement and the concept for the website as well as for coordinating the production of the television public service announcement with Radar Productions.  In addition, Bibb County and Fulton County provided financial assistance to help produce these resources.

 

For questions or additional information on any of these resources, please contact ACCG Communications Director Beth Brown at (404) 683-1822 or bbrown@accg.org.