Perry may receive tax refund

jclark@sunmulti.com

The Perry City council members gave the go ahead, pending

the city attorney’s approval, to enter into an agreement between the city and

the Tax Specialists of Georgia, during the meeting Thrusday.

The agreement would allow the Tax Specialists of Georgia to

represent the city before the Department of Revenue regarding the sales and use

tax years, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

An email from Cliff Harpe, who is associated with the Tax Specialists

of Georgia, to Mayor Jimmy Faircloth states, “Basically, Tax Specialists of

Georgia reviews your water treatment, sewer treatment, and other pollution

control projects. They obtain information on the sales tax paid by your

contractors and their subcontractors. Then, Tax Specialists of Georgia files a

refund request that recovers those tax payments back to you, the local

government.”

Taxes the city could be refunded include the sales and use

taxes that have been paid but would have been exempt under the House Bill 48,

Chapter 8, Section 3, taxes paid inadvertently, taxes paid using an improper

rate or to an improper taxing authority.

“There is a three year look back window” on the projects,

explained Faircloth, meaning the refund documents must be filed within three

years of the tax payment to receive the refund.

Harpe stated in the email, “Tax Specialists only get paid if

you get paid.”

If the city does receive a refund then the Tax Specialists

of Georgia will receive 25 percent, according to the agreement.

In other business, Community Development Director Mike

Beecham present council with the idea of planning for future street lights on

Perry Parkway.

Beecham told council that having a plan for lighting in the

median of the street would be beneficial once growth in the area picks up.

The council agreed with Beecham’s suggestion and gave him

the ok to start planning.

The next council work session will be Jan. 14, and the next

regular session will be Jan. 15.

HHJ News