Troup County commissioners lambasted proposed state legislation that would require a $10,000 homestead exemption at local expense.

House Bill 483, which failed in the 2009 session but may come up again next year, would require county governments and school systems to add a $1,000 exemption in each of the next 10 years for a total of $10,000. Cities would be exempt from the requirement.

The state had provided an annual $8,000 exemption, but it was canceled this year because of revenue shortfalls.

“This is the legislature’s way of putting it back, but on the backs” of counties and school systems, Commission Chairman Ricky Wolfe said Wednesday.

“It would be the largest unfunded mandate in the state of Georgia if passed,” he said. “… It would be a huge expense on us.”

The $10,000 would be in addition to any local exemptions already in place. Towns County, for example, approved an $8,000 exemption which could become $18,000 if the bill passes, Troup County Manager Mike Dobbs said.

“The state’s trying to cover their back at our expense,” said Commissioner Ken Smith. “… They want to tell John Q. Public, ‘Look what we’re doing for you.’ They’re not doing anything.”

Commissioner Richard English said the state is “smiling about it,” and he urged residents to contact their legislators to voice their dismay.

“The local taxpayers would have to pick up the tab with no say-so at all,” said Commissioner Morris Jones. “It’s an illusion. It’s not a tax break, but a tax increase.”

In another matter Wednesday, the county has given its comments on a proposed 167-acre expansion of the Meriwether Industrial Park north of Hogansville.

The project is under a “development of regional impact” review by the Three Rivers Regional Commission, which will decide whether it’s in the best interests of this area. Its recommendations will go to the Meriwether County Commission, which has the final say on rezoning the property for commercial and industrial use.

The expansion may include a 60-bed hospital in support of the industrial park, said Troup County planner Nancy Seegar. It also might be a source of dirt for the Turkey Run Landfill, which is in the current 766-acre industrial park, along with Kia Motors supplier Dongwon.

In a memo Oct. 12, assistant county engineer Kevin Kinnersley told Three Rivers that there should be a traffic impact study that would be reviewed by Meriwether County, Hogansville, Troup County and the state Department of Transportation.

The industrial park will significantly increase traffic, Kinnersley said, and “the effect on these roads and their intersections should be analyzed as part of the traffic impact study, and mitigating improvement measures should be recommended.”

He expects significant upgrades will be needed on Sewell and County Line roads to accommodate additional traffic, and buffers will be needed to protect adjoining residential property.

“I would expect extra care to be taken to protect water quality in the Blue Creek Reservoir,” he said.

Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@ lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 235.