Officials say blighted properties could get taxed higher

Owners of properties throughout DeKalb County with severe deterioration or shuttered businesses could see their property tax bill increase 10-fold.

Officials with DeKalb County, including CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, Code Compliance Director Tonza Clark, and Interim County Attorney Terry Phillips, made the announcement recently, giving more details about the implementation of the Blight Tax Ordinance.

“I’d like to begin by saying what the blight tax is not,” said Cochran-Johnson. “It’s not about raising taxes. The blight tax is about compelling property owners to address dangerous and severely blight properties that have negative effects on the safety and health of our communities.”

The tax will not affect single family residential properties and can only be applied to commercial properties, stated Cochran-Johnson. “Tax increases will not occur because a property simply looks unattractive; this tax cannot be applied without judicial review and oversight through our courts. This ordinance strictly focuses on properties that meet the legal definition of severely blighted under state and county laws.”

Under the ordinance, a property that a court formally designates as blighted can be taxed at up to 10 times the standard property tax rate.

Cochran-Johnson also announced that a Blight Tax Task Force is starting up that will “have a strategic focus on identifying blighted properties and bringing them into compliance.”

Clark reiterated at the meeting that every property owner will receive due process under the law. Since May, educational efforts and training has been underway to implement these procedures, Clark said.

“We have already prepared the first set of cases, and we’ve sent those initial cases to our law department for them to review,” Clark explained. Approximately 50 properties are now under evaluation.

According to DeKalb County Code Compliance’s website, code compliance administration enforces county ordinances in unincorporated DeKalb. Initial inspections typically happen within three business days of a report, the website continues.

To report a violation, call 404-687-3700, email codeenforcement@dekalbcountyga.gov or visit https://dekalbcountyga.gov/departments/code-compliance.