Gwinnett Commissioner Pushing Plan to Lower Property Taxes, Hike Sales Tax
In an attempt to ease the tax burden on local homeowners, a Gwinnett County commissioner is pushing for a penny sales tax increase.
Commissioner Mike Beaudreau says his proposal would result in no net tax increase because the sales tax increase would be offset by lower property taxes.
Beaudreau says homeowners have been paying a disproportionate share of the county budget for too long. He says his initiative would spread out the tax burden.
“The burden is shared over a greater pool of people. Instead of just property owners, it’s folks that are spending dollars in Gwinnett that don’t live here, as well as folks that just don’t own property.”
He says depending less on property taxes and more on the sales tax will put the county on more stable financial ground.
“Just like one does with their investment portfolio it diversifies the county revenue stream so I think it makes it a little more able to handle fiscal storms like we’re in right now.”
Beaudreau’s proposal comes after the county reported a decline of nearly $30 million dollars in property tax revenue this year compared to last.
Countywide projections aren’t much rosier for the next few years.
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