On January 22nd the Board of Commissioners received a presentation from our Independent Auditor for the audit that was conducted for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.  The County received an excellent audit report and I commend the work of our Finance Department on this achievement. 

  

The County's five-year strategic plan came to a close on December 31, 2012 and accomplished five ambitious years of success.  I look forward to holding a goal-setting retreat with the Board of Commissioners in late February to set new goals and priorities that will set a new course for the future of Camden County. 

  

During 2013 we will be faced with extraordinary challenges and opportunities but with continued planning the County is poised to meet tomorrow's challenges today.  

  

   

Yours for a better Camden,

  

also will no longer be subject to the annual ad valorem tax. Instead, these vehicles will be subject to a new, one-time state and local title ad valorem tax (TAVT) that is paid at the time

owner registers the vehicle and applies for the title with the county.

 

The new system for taxing vehicles only applies when the ownership of the vehicle is transferred through a title exchange. All other vehicle owners will continue to operate under the

current system and pay the annual ad valorem taxes until they no longer hold title to the vehicle.

 

"This is a major change in the way taxes are paid on motor vehicles. People need to fully understand that the cost to title a vehicle is going to be higher than what they may have previously experienced," said ACCG Legislative Director Clint Mueller. "The tradeoff is that they will not have to pay a sales tax if they have traditionally purchased a vehicle through a dealership and they will not have the annual ad valorem tax to pay every year." 

  

The title ad valorem tax is collected by the county tax commissioner before a new title is issued and the vehicle is registered. The new title ad valorem tax is calculated at a rate of 6.5% of the vehicle's value, not the sales price, as defined by the Department of Revenue's motor vehicle ad valorem assessment manual. When there is no value available in the assessment manual, the bill of sale or a reputable used car market guide determines the value. The trade-in value of another motor vehicle will be deducted from the value to get the taxable value.

 

The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) provides answers to additional questions on the title ad valorem tax on its website:

 http://onlinemvd.dor.ga.gov/Tap/faqs.aspx  

In addition, DOR  has developed a calculator to estimate the amount of title ad valorem tax due on a vehicle which is available here: http://onlinemvd.dor.ga.gov/TAP/Welcome.aspx