2024 Georgia General Elections

2024 Georgia General Election Runoff

Ben Hill County, Barry Foster

As of July 25, 2024, Barry A Foster did not have a website or any information online.

Barry A Foster currently serves the Tax Commissioner in Ben Hill County in Georgia.

Administration

Barry A Foster

As of August 19, 2024, Barry A Foster did not have a website or any information online.

As of August 16, 2024, Barry A Foster’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports providing total ad valorem tax exemptions for the un-remarried surviving spouses of deceased firefighters and peace officers.

Supports specialized assessment programs, such as assessing certain agricultural properties at 30% of fair market value if used for bona fide agricultural purposes.

Supports the Conservation Use program, which values certain agricultural, timber, environmentally sensitive, and residential transitional properties for tax purposes at current use value rather than fair market value.

Supports an exemption from the State portion of ad valorem taxes for homeowners aged 65 and older who qualify for a homestead exemption.

Supports the Property Tax Deferral Program for qualified homestead property owners aged 62 and older with a gross household income of $15,000 or less, allowing them to defer ad valorem tax payments until property ownership changes or deferred taxes reach 85% of the property's fair market value.

Supports maintaining property use restrictions for specialized tax programs, requiring owners to covenant with the Board of Tax Assessors for at least 10 years to qualify.

Supports using the mill rate to determine tax amounts based on property value.

Believes property owners can appeal changes in property value within 45 days based on taxability, value, or uniformity compared to similar properties, but not on the amount of taxes levied.

Supports notifying property owners of any changes in property value and allowing them to appeal the change within 45 days.

Supports taxing standing timber only when sold or harvested, based on 100% of its fair market value.

Supports allowing taxpayers to appeal property tax assessments through the Board of Tax Assessors, the County Board of Equalization, and Superior Court, and also supports an arbitration method of appeal as an alternative to administrative appeals.

Supports registering newly purchased vehicles within 30 days and applying sales tax at the time of titling for vehicles purchased from out-of-state dealers or businesses.

Believes in enforcing penalties for late vehicle registration, which are 10% of the tax ($5.00 minimum) and 25% of the tag fee, starting immediately after the due date.

Believes in providing clear information about property tax rights and responsibilities, while acknowledging the complexity of tax laws and encouraging direct contact for unanswered questions.

Tax Commissioners are elected at the county level, and their job is to oversee most phases of the taxing process. These responsibilities include billing, collecting, processing, and distributing taxes. They are generally in charge of property taxes, solid waste fees, public utilities, and renewing your vehicle tag. Notably, the Tax Commissioner does not determine how much taxes you pay. Because taxes are a source of revenue for counties, the tax commissioners’ work is ultimately beneficial to individual cities, education, transportation, and other local services. In addition to administering tax laws, the department is responsible for enforcing laws and  regulations pertaining to the control of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products in Georgia as well as motor vehicle license plate and title administration.

Oversees the taxing process in the county

Ben Hill Tax Commissioner

Election results

Candidates (1)