Where’s the Public Benefit and “Common Good” with Selling a Senior’s Home for Property Taxes?

By State Representative Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain)

(582 words)

As today, November 7, 2023, marks the date of the DeKalb County property tax sale, a pressing question emerges: What is the public gain in selling the homes of 16-17 senior citizens, whose property tax debt totals over $17,000, when their collective properties are valued at over $3,700,000? In a time when conversations regarding social responsibility, the well-being of our elderly citizens, and the common good are central to our societal dialogue, it is crucial to closely examine the potential outcomes of these actions.

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Representatives Sandra Scott, Viola Davis and Kim Schofield to Hold Press Conference to Discuss Lawsuit Against Board of Regents for Funding Disparities for HBCUs

ATLANTA – State Representatives Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) and Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) will hold a press conference with legal advocates to discuss a federal lawsuit against the Georgia Board of Regents for the State University System regarding disparate funding between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their land-grant counterparts TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building in Atlanta.

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Representatives Sandra Scott, Viola Davis and Kim Schofield Hold Press Conference to Address Funding Disparities for HBCUs

ATLANTA – State Representatives Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) and Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) recently held a press conference to demand increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Their call for increased funding comes after U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack sent letters to the governors of 16 states, including Georgia, asking each to raise funding for HBCUs.

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Representatives Sandra Scott, Viola Davis and Kim Schofield to Hold Press Conference to Demand Increased Funding for HBCUs

ATLANTA – State Representatives Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta), along with legal professionals, will hold a press conference to address funding disparities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 3 p.m. in room 610 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building in Atlanta.

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Protecting Our Elderly Citizens: A Closer Look at Property Taxes and the Impact on Fixed Incomes

By State Representatives Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) and Sandra Scott (D-Rex)

(630 words)

In our society, where homeownership is often considered a symbol of financial security and stability, property taxes can be a heavy burden, especially for elderly citizens living on fixed incomes. Many older individuals and couples find themselves struggling to pay property taxes, which can sometimes be relatively modest amounts, typically less than $5,000 per year. We will explore the challenges faced by elderly citizens in meeting their property tax obligations, and we hope to raise important questions about the ethics and implications of forcing these individuals out of their homes due to unpaid taxes.

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