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Date: Friday, June 22, 2012
More than 700 homes in N. DeKalb mistakenly overvalued, see if your home is listed
If residents of Wynterhall, Mount Vernon Way, Withmere, Sumerset Court as well as dozens other streets in Dunwoody thought their recent tax assessment were too high, they are probably right. The Crier has obtained the list of 722 additional properties the DeKalb Tax Assessor found to be mistakenly overvalued. The overvaluations range from about $50,000 to as much as $250,000. Most of the overvaluations in Dunwoody are six figures.
Residents in Wynterhall had complained and District One Commissioner Elaine Boyer looked into the assessments, which triggered the tax assessor to release a new list totaling $67 million in overvaluations. A previous report had identified some 2,000 properties assessed too high in Decatur and the Emory area.
The tax assessor had previously concluded that the county’s tax digest had dropped 6 percent, but with these mistakes lowering the digest by millions, it is expected the drop will be closer to 8 or 9 percent.
The new list identified 79 homes in Wynterhall that are overvalued from $61,000 to $136,000. Homes on Withmere, Biddle, Reston and Mt Vernon Way are overvalued from $53,000 to $209,000. The list also includes homes in the Tilly Mill, Silver Lake, Henderson Mill, Clairmont Terrace and Mercer University areas.
The tax assessor’s office said that residents would be receiving a new notice with the corrected information and still have 45 days to appeal.
To see the list as a pdf, click here.
Washington Post - New York City’s billionaire mayor is using his personal fortune to try to spark innovation in the nation’s cities — inviting 1,300 mayors to compete for millions of dollars in funding for new programs meant to solve urban challenges and enhance city life.
The mayors of U.S. municipalities with at least 30,000 residents will be asked to join the Mayors Challenge, being launched Wednesday by Bloomberg Philanthropies, which is offering a grand prize of $5 million and four smaller prizes of $1 million. The foundation is asking the mayors to focus on initiatives that could be replicated elsewhere if successful.
Bloomberg, who has said that he plans to focus full-time on his philanthropy after his third term ends in 2013, argued that mayors are better positioned than community organizations, governors and even presidents to make a difference when it comes to delivering services.
“Governors and presidents redistribute and work at a different level, a policy level. Mayors have to get stuff done,” Bloomberg said. “Organizations tend to talk a lot, and some do some things. Mayors don’t have that option. Mayors, if you don’t deliver something, you are out of office pretty quickly.”
The challenge is part of the philanthropy’s Mayors Project, which has already paid to install teams in Atlanta, Chicago, Louisville, Memphis and New Orleans to work on initiatives in areas including small-business growth and crime reduction. Under the $24 million initiative, the teams report directly to the mayors of those cities.
Applications for the Mayors Challenge will be due Sept. 14, and winners will be announced in May after teams from finalist cities attend an “Ideas Camp” at which they can refine their proposals.
Under the contest rules, cities must propose ideas that improve “city life by addressing a major social or economic issue, improving the customer service experience for citizens or businesses, increasing government efficiency, and/or enhancing accountability, transparency, and public engagement,” according to the foundation.
My oldest son Riley attended the June 3rd session of Dunwoody Speed Camp with a bunch of other middle school boys and really got something out of the drills presented. Riley also enjoyed the overall instruction by two graduating high school athlete standouts, Jake Hudgins of Dunwoody and Chris Varalla of Marist.
Barbara Ann Medlen Dodds, 74, of Dunwoody, GA passed away peacefully on June 2, 2012 in Atlanta. She was born in Bonham, Texas on September 18, 1937. Barbara graduated from Orleans American High School in Orleans, France. She was married to Ralph A. Dodds, Jr. on September 1, 1956.
Loved by all who knew her, Barbara was an expert seamstress who passed on her love of sewing and other crafts to her children and grandchildren. She was a long-time officer in the Dunwoody North Civic Association, Dunwoody North Homeowners Association and was well known for her community service.
She is survived by her beloved and loving husband of 56 years, Ralph; children Al Dodds, Patti Soderberg, Cathleen Nodzak; her grandchildren Andrew, Julianne, Melissa, Emily, Rachel, Kelly, Casi, Joshua, Christine, Nicholas, and Samantha; sister Nadine Spelde; and several nieces and nephews.
Those wishing, may make memorial contributions in lieu of flowers to The Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM on Monday, June 4, 2012 at Fisher Funeral Home 3742 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd Atlanta GA 30341.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA at a time to be determined. To confirm service time and sign online guestbook please visit www.fischerfuneralcare.com Arrangements by Fischer Funeral Care, Atlanta, 678-514-1000.
