Were the residents of Hoschton, GA successful in trying to get a tax law changed?
Hoschton residents’ tax petition rejected: The Hoschton City Council has rejected residents’ effort to change the city’s charter so that all tax increases would have to be approved by the electorate. In rejecting the petition, council members cited a Georgia law that says local laws cannot pre-empt state laws, according to a statement released by the city Tuesday morning. Hoschton residents submitted a 417-signature petition June 15 requesting a referendum to change the city’s charter so that property tax levies would have to be approved by voters. Hoschton hasn’t had a property tax for 30 years, but facing tough financial times, residents want to decide whether to institute a tax or cut services. Petition organizer Kelley Gary believed that the residents needed a little more than 200 signatures to force a referendum, but council members will not schedule a vote on the grounds that the change to the city charter would violate state law, according to the statement drafted by City Attorn
