Ocg 10 21 17 by On Common Ground News

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OCTOBER 21, 2017

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Police seek hit-and-run driver who killed 4-year-old DeKalb girl By Valerie J. Morgan

Lun Thang

trail of shoes graced the front door of Zam Tuang and San Thang’s small apartment in Clarkston. Inside, family and friends gathered to try and pick up the pieces of the Burmese couple’s lives, shattered after the Thangs’ 4-year-old daughter, Lun, was struck by a hit-and-run driver. As some women cooked in the kitchen, silence filled the apartment, broken by a small child crying. Lun Thang, a pre-K student, was killed on Oct. 18 around 6:45 a.m. as she walked to Indian Creek Elementary School accompanied by her aunt, 7-year-old sister and cousin.

“She was a sweet girl, very happy,” said Zam Tuang, the child’s father as he ushered in a guest, who, following Burmese custom, removed his shoes before entering the family’s home. Tuang said his wife was home with their infant, just 2 weeks old, when their daughter was killed. San is inside a room resting and does not emerge as guests line the walls, some sitting on the floors, others seated in folding metal chairs, the day after the tragedy. Lun was hit at the crosswalk on SEE HIT-AND-RUN, page 5 Zam Tuang removes his shoes before entering his home where several people were waiting inside. He and his wife, San, lost their 4-year-old daughter, Lun Thang, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver on the way to school. Child’s portrait provided by family.

Photos by Glenn L. Morgan/ OCGNews

Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/ OCGNews

A campaign sign for Conyers mayoral candidate Ronnie Godwin stands outside the Shell Station, located at West Avenue and Green Street, where free gas allegedly was offered to early voters.

State investigates gas-for-votes offer in Conyers

The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office is investigating allegations of a gas-for-votes offer in Conyers after receiving complaints from citizens and information from the Rockdale County Elections Supervisor Cynthia Welch. State officials are looking into allegations that the Shell Gas Station, located at the intersection of West Avenue and Green Street, offered $5 of gas to the first 100 people who brought in their “I Voted” sticker and provided identification showing they live in Conyers. “We received two complaints in our office and so I went by the station to find out if they were giving away free gas to those who voted. I went to let them know that is a federal offense to provide anything free for votes. The person at the station became upset. He was very nasty and he denied it,” said Welch, who visited the station on Oct. 16, the day early voting began for municipal races in the city of Conyers. The three-way mayoral race is heating up as challengers stomp for votes to fill the seat vacated by Randy Mills, who has served for 20 years in Conyers. Candidate Ronnie Godwin allegedly urged Conyers voters in a Facebook post to take advantage of

early voting and receive $5 in free gas at the Shell station. Campaign officials said they could not comment while the inquiry is underway. “Because there’s an inquiry, it would be inappropriate to comment at this time,” said Bob Nesbitt, a spokesman for Godwin’s campaign. Attempts to reach Godwin by On Common Ground News’ deadline were unsuccessful. Welch said the law regarding free offers for votes is clear. “Any person who gives or receives, offers to give or receive, or participates in the giving or receiving of money or gifts for the purpose of registering as a voter, voting, or voting for a particular candidate in any primary or election shall be guilty of a felony,” Welch said, citing the Georgia Code 21-2570 (2016). “It’s fine to give away freebies, as long as you give them to everyone. When you make offers specifically to voters and then ask them to provide their sticker and I.D. to take advantage of that offer, that’s crossing the line,” said Welch. Rockdale County is using the municipal elections to pilot new voting machines for the state of Georgia. For more on the story, see page 3.

Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/ OCGNews

DeKalb CEO, city mayors offer overview of SPLOST projects

lanked by mayors and leaders of the 12 cities within the county, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond held a news conference on Oct. 18 to give an overview of projects that would be funded by the new 1 percent sales tax, if voters approve three referendums now at stake. Early voting for the referendums began on Oct. 16, ahead of the General Election on Nov. 7. While city residents will vote on the referendums and their citywide elections, voters in unincorporated DeKalb County will vote only on the referendums. Passage of the Special Purpose Local Sales Tax would increase DeKalb’s sales tax rate to 8 percent

and transform the county. Thurmond said the sales tax would pave the way for critical infrastructure improvements across the county including repairing roads, building a new fire station and adding 100 new police cars. “Eighty-five percent of the money raised must be for roads, streets, bridges and public safety… It’s about improving the quality of life for all of our citizens in DeKalb,” Thurmond said. Over the six-year term of the SPLOST, DeKalb County is expected to receive $388 million, with the 12 cities receiving a portion of $248.7 million based on their population. The SEE SPLOST, page 2

PAGE 2 • OCTOBER 21, 2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

“Released: When Does the Sentence End?” to screen at Porter Sanford Center The Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney, in partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, Leadership DeKalb, and the Metro Atlanta Reentry Coalition will host a reception and public screening of the reentry-themed documentary, “Released: When Does the Sentence End?” The event will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 6 p.m., at Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur.

DeKalb Fire Rescue to graduate 24 recruits

DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department held a graduation for 24 firefighter recruits on Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. Graduates have completed field orientation, which included approximately 13 months of DeKalb government protocols and fire and emergency medical training.

Career Expo showcases opportunities with Gwinnett County government Job seekers looking to begin their career with Gwinnett County Government are invited to the third annual Career Expo hosted by the Gwinnett County Department of Human Resources. The free event will be held Friday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. New this year, HR representatives will be available to provide free résumé critiques. Application and interview skills training sessions will be held at 10:30 a.m. after employee testimonials and a presentation about Gwinnett County employee benefits, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. The Career Expo gives job seekers an opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives from various County departments and learn about job opportunities in many fields: information technology; accounting and finance; administrative/clerical; protective services (corrections, fire and emergency services, police and sheriff); engineering; project management; and technical and field services. Career seekers can visit www.gwinnettcountyjobs.com to view current vacancies and submit an application.

SPLOST, conditioned from page 1 cities will use their monies to fund their own infrastructure projects. If the referendums are passed, the SPLOST will not apply to sales tax on groceries and prescriptions. Also, all homeowners would receive a reduction in their property taxes by the EHOST, Thurmond said. DeKalb County’s SPLOST is the only one in the state to exempt food and medicines, official said. The ballot questions include: • A new EHOST (Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax), which would replace an existing HOST by applying 100 percent of the revenue to reduce property taxes for homeowners. • A special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST), which is an additional one-cent sales tax, which would raise money to repave more than 318 miles of roads in the county and fund other infrastructure repairs. Each city has a unique list of capital improvements for their respective jurisdictions. • The continuing freeze on property tax increases for existing homeowners for the six-year period of the SPLOST. For DeKalb County, the projects to be funded by SPLOST include: • Transportation – $240.3 million • Public safety – $84.7 million • Parks and recreation repairs – $37.3 million • General repairs - $20 million For more information on the DeKalb County SPLOST, go to www. dekalbsplost.com. For more information about the election, go to www.dekalbvotes.com.

Stonecrest SPLOST Yes sets community breakfast Stonecrest SPLOST Yes, an advocacy group, is hosting a community breakfast to educate the public on Friday, Oct. 27, 8:30 to 10 a.m., at the Stoncrest City Hall (upstairs). Each municipality in DeKalb County will receive a pro-rated share of SPLOST revenue based on its population as determined by the 2016 census estimates. With Stonecrest being DeKalb’s largest with a population of 53,000, it is projected to receive approximately $47 million over the six-year period. Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary said improving infrastructure is so important. “World-class county. World-class cities. World-class companies that are going to move here. And the only way to be able to do that is to make sure you have world-class facilities, world-class police departments and fire, of course, and transportation. To make it to where we want to go, this is essential for where we want to be,” said Lary. “With all of the amazing things to come for the city of Stonecrest, we need improvements to our roads, our own police department, improved recreational facilities and better access to transit. SPLOST will get us on the path to address many of our needs to flourish as a new city,” said Chris Seabrook, a Stonecrest resident.

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On Common Ground News is published weekly by On Common Ground, Inc. The newspaper serves DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale and Henry counties. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or the newspaper’s advertisers. No portion of this newspaper may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. We reserve the right to reject material and advertisements we deem inappropriate. On Common Ground News

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OCTOBER 21, 2017 • PAGE 3

DeKalb NAACP launches massive volunteer recruitment drive to boost student success

he DeKalb County NAACP is taking the old proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” to heart. The branch is partnering with the DeKalb County School District to recruit volunteers to work with faculty and students in schools throughout the district. Lance Hammonds, who serves as the NAACP branch’s second vice president and chairs the education committee, said the partnership is a concerted effort to help students achieve, particularly those in underperforming schools. Hammonds said the NAACP collaborated with Schools Superintendent R. Stephen Green and Dr. Vasanne Tinsley, deputy superintendent, student support and intervention, to develop a volunteer training program that will measure the effectiveness of the program itself. Hammonds said Green wants to provide as many resources as possible to students and parents so that academic achievement is a reality for all students. “He’s looking at what impedes student achievement—everything from students having food to eat to having healthcare and removing those barriers,” said Hammonds. The initial recruiting period, Hammonds said, will end Nov. 17, and training will begin in December. The first phase of volunteers will begin participating beginning in January. “There’s never been a concerted effort like this before. We’re going to be going to sororities, fraternities, barbershops, hair salons and throughout

Lance Hammonds

the community asking them to help us get the word out about the recruitment effort,” said Hammonds. “We’re looking for volunteers to serve in four areas: administration, the hallways, classroom and in general. We want students and faculty to know that volunteers are there to help the students to achieve, whether that means taking the load off of teachers so they don’t have to be in the hallways or other faculty so they can prepare materials to teach. We are serious about helping our students achieve.” NAACP President Teresa Hardy said those who are interested in becoming volunteers must undergo a background check. The goal is to recruit at least 1,300 volunteers, with at least 50 for each underperforming school in the district. “The goal is to enhance parent and community involvement in schools to achieve student success,” Hardy said. “The research has shown that parent, family and community involvement correlates with higher academic perfor-

mance and school improvement.” Hammonds said another round of recruitment would begin soon after the first so that more volunteers can start in February. “Everyone must get serious about student achievement in order for economic development to grow on a largescale basis in the county,” said Hammonds. The topic is one that the Stonecrest City Council recently received an earful from members of the governor’s transition education subcommittee, which was established to help set up the city. The group, headed by retired educator and Stonecrest resident, Dr. Barbara Lee, presented an updated report that, among other things, recommended more parental engagement and ways the city could be involved in improving public education. The City Council passed a resolution on Oct. 16 to continue the work of the committee and Mayor Jason Lary appointed Dr. Diane Adoma, mayor pro tem, to serve as a liaison to the committee. “I’m pleased to be appointed to this community because this is a good first step for the city of Stonecrest to begin the collaborations for quality education,” said Adoma, who has scheduled a meeting with Lee and Hammonds. Interested in volunteering in DeKalb County’s public schools? Please register at https://communityschoolvolunteer. eventbrite.com. Once you have registered, more details will be provided.

Conyers pilots Georgia’s new voting system, extends early voting hours

ockdale County Elections Supervisor Cynthia Welch said her office is extending hours, 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., the last two days of the early voting period. Extended hours will be available on Thursday, Nov. 2, and Friday, Nov. 3, to attract more voters to use the new machines Rockdale is piloting for the state of Georgia. Originally, Welch’s office was scheduled to be open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, during the early voting period, which runs Oct. 16 through Nov. 3. However, Welch said the hours for early voting were extended to allow people to get home from work and make it to the polls. On Election Day, Nov. 7, the polls will be open as normally scheduled--from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., she said. As of 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 19, the voter turnout was 112 for the City of Conyers general and special elections. Three candidates are running

for mayor, and three council seats are unchallenged. The city has a total of 7,671 active voters, Welch said. Welch said 96 voters had cast ballots in person, while 16 ballots had been issued by mail. Rockdale was selected to pilot the Voter Express machines to gauge how well a small pool of voters could navigate the new system, said Welch, who projects a 12 percent turnout for Conyers elections. The new system allows voters to review a printed ballot before it is then placed in a tabulator. If a voter makes a mistake on a selection, he or she may turn in the ballot, receive a new one and start over. Early voting for the Conyers elections is only available at 1400 Parker Road. To confirm voter registration and for more information, Rockdale voters may call 770-278-7333.

Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/ OCGNews

Rockdale Elections Supervisor Cynthia Welch shows a visitor how to use the new voting machines.

DeKalb to host public hearings for Stone Mountain, Clarkston clusters DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will conduct three public meetings as a part of an upcoming redistricting effort in the Stone Mountain and Clarkston clusters. This redistricting effort could potentially address additional capacity created by the newly rebuilt Rockbridge Elementary School facility, as well as the overcrowding of elementary, middle, and high schools in the Stone Mountain and Clarkston clusters. All members of the public are invited to attend these meetings and learn more about the redistricting, which could potentially impact the following schools: Allgood Elementary School, Dunaire Elementary School, Hambrick Elementary School, Indian Creek Elementary School, Jolly Elementary School, Rockbridge Elementary School, Stone Mill Elementary School, Stone Mountain Elementary School, Freedom Middle School, Stone Mountain Middle School, Clarkston High School, Stone Mountain High School. The three meetings will be held 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Freedom Middle School, 505 S. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain, on the following dates: • Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017 • Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 • Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018

PAGE 4 • OCTOBER 21, 2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

Rep. Carter to host Nonprofit Summit

State Rep. Doreen Carter, who represents District 92, will host the Georgia House District 92 Nonprofit Summit on Saturday, Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at Nancy Guinn Memorial Library in Conyers. This event is a gathering of nonprofits in District 92 that work to make a difference in the community. The theme of the event is “Creating Connections, Building Bridges.” “My vision for the Nonprofit Summit is to reshape the way District 92’s nonprofits work together to leverage scarce resources, and this informative event will allow State Rep. Doreen Carter nonprofit leaders to learn from one another,” said Rep. Carter. “I hope that our discussions at the Nonprofit Summit will help guide our nonprofit organizations as they create, implement and evaluate collaborative strategies for the future and that this event will result in an action plan to help meet the needs of District 92’s nonprofits, whether the organizations are in the beginning stages of development or are established institutions in the community.” The Nonprofit Summit is open to any organization interested in expanding nonprofit services in the community, and local organizations are encouraged to set up exhibits highlighting their work in the community. Practitioners with national, regional and local experience working directly for and with nonprofit organizations will lead discussions on topics related to organizational structure and strategic and financial planning. Interested attendees and exhibitors must RSVP. To RSVP, contact Elaine Davis-Nickens, Task Force for Good coordinator, at 770-331-2537 or edavisnickens@gmail.com.

DeKalb Chamber president receives Power25 Award from Walker’s Legacy

Katerina Taylor, president & CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, received a Walker’s Legacy Power25 Award, a national award that recognizes the achievements of local business and community leaders. Recipients of the Walker’s Legacy Power25 Atlanta Awards are women who have thrived in an array of industries, including technology, media, corporate, business, and education. Walker›s Legacy is a global platform for the professional and entrepreneurial multicultural woman. The organization inspires, equips and engages through thoughtKaterina Taylor provoking content, educational programming, and a global community. The Power25 honor was given to 25 women in major metropolitan cities across the country, including Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and New York City. As the first female President of DeKalb Chamber, Taylor has sustained the financial health of the Chamber by increasing operational efficiency and the organization’s overall budget, by developing a more progressive and valuable programming. Taylor also established the WELD Program— Women Executive Leaders of DeKalb, a resource group to address women in business and their unique challenges and opportunities, and the DeKalb Chamber MiniMag, a digital publication shinning a spotlight on Emerging Entrepreneurs.

Ready to write your first book? Leslie E. Royal shows you how

eKalb County resident Leslie E. Royal, an author and freelance journalist who has written for national outlets for two decades, has released a new manuscript to help you discover the author in you. The how-to guide is entitled “How to Write and Self-Publish Your Book for FREE with Amazon’s CreateSpace: An Easy Way to Complete Your Manuscript in Seven StressFREE Steps.” Royal said the guide is for procrastinators, those with busy schedules like hers and those who don’t know where to begin. She provides step-by-step instructions on how to write and self-publish in a matter of weeks. “Over my 20-year writing career, I have had countless individuals share that they want to write their first book. Their primary dilemma is they just don’t know where to start,” said Royal. Royal said her new book includes helpful resources, an opportunity to journal and a fill-in-the-blank workbook that inspires those who want to tell their stories to get started immediately. “I figured that no one wants to read a 200-page book on how to write a book! Therefore, while being comprehensive, I focused on making it as short, simple and stress-free as possible.” Royal shares how to get started, stay focused, meet deadlines and upload the book directly to Amazon’s CreateSpace for free. Royal’s articles have appeared in magazines such as Upscale, Fortune, Essence, Black Enterprise, Chron.com and other international outlets. She covers consumer finance, careers and lifestyle issues. In addition to her new how-to guide, Royal is the author of “Leslie’s Lane The Book!: Your One Stop Internet Resource Guide to Links for Jobs, Inspiration, Discounts, FREE Stuff, Scholarships, Travel & More!” Royal’s how-to guide is distributed by Amazon in more than 15 countries. The book can be purchased for $9.95 at: https://www.amazon. com/Write-Self-Publish-Your-Amazons-CreateSpace/dp/0692913521. For e-book lovers, the manuscript is also available on Kindle. For more information on Leslie Royal’s books or to invite her to a speaking engagement, email Leslieroyal1@msn.com.

Conyers Middle School Principal Allison Barbour, Rockdale County Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr., RCPS Executive Director of School Nutrition Peggy Lawrence, State Superintendent Richard Woods.

State Superintendent serves at CMS for National School Lunch Week Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) students saw many new faces working the lunch lines on Oct. 13, as RCPS celebrated National School Lunch Week with special guest servers, including State Superintendent Richard Woods. Woods and Rockdale County Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. donned aprons and hairnets at Conyers Middle School (CMS) to help serve Walking Tacos. Woods also had a chance to learn about CMS’s Center for Technology & Engineering (aerospace), tour the flight simulator laboratory with instructor Lt. Col. Stephen Williams, and learn about the new drone flight program starting next year. Rockdale County Superior Court Chief Judge David Irwin served the hungry students at Pine Street Elementary in this last year in the historic building before PSE moves to the new state-of-the-art campus being constructed on Sigman Road. State Sen. Tanya Anderson served the students at Flat Shoals Elementary’s lunch line. Conyers Police Capt. Derek Parker served in the lunch line at C.J. Hicks Elementary’s cafeteria. RCPS leaders and employees also jumped in to work the lunch lines at schools across the county.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE CITY OF STONECREST PLANNING COMMISSION 6 PM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017 STONECREST LIBRARY 3123 KLONDIKE ROAD LITHONIA, GA 30038

CITY COUNCIL 10 AM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017 STONECREST CITY HALL BLVD 3120 STONECREST BLVD STONECREST, GA 30038

The following Land Use Petition located within the City of Stonecrest is scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above. LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:

RZ-17-001 Riwan A. Syed and Saira T. Naiaz 2332 Panola Road C-1 (Local Commercial) Conditional C-1 (Local Commercial) Conditional Change in conditions to allow an office.

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OCTOBER 21, 2017 • PAGE 5

HIT-AND-RUN, conditioned from page 1 North Indian Creek Drive, just a few yards from the school. The sedan sent her airborne, hitting another vehicle as the sedan lost control, stopped momentarily and then sped off, said DeKalb police spokesperson Sheira Campbell. Police took photographs of one of the little girl’s shoes left at the scene. DeKalb police are seeking the public’s help in locating the dark sedan witnesses reported seeing fleeing, Campbell said. “The car has front end damage. We’re looking at the front headlight may be damaged,” said Campbell. “If anyone is working in an auto repair shop and they bring in a Toyota or a Honda with front end damage, they should notify the DeKalb Police Department.” Investigators were reviewing surveillance tapes, looking for images of the car. Meanwhile, DeKalb County School District officials have asked crossing guards to report at 6:30 a.m., rather than 7 a.m., for the remainder of the school year, said district spokesman Andre Riley. “Tragedies like this are always unexpected. Everyone is taking it hard. We are providing support for our staff, students and the child’s family,” Riley said. Maurisia Stansil, who lives in Clarkston, said she was saddened to learn what happened after getting stuck in traffic while taking her own children to another school near the area where the little girl was hit. “We pulled up a few moments after it happened. There were a lot of police cars, helicopters and people looking. We had to turn around and go another way due to traffic and them blocking off that area,” Stansil said. Stansil said the she was glad the school district had more crossing guards on duty and that her heart goes out to the family. Zam Tuang said he and his family are from Burma. He came to the U.S. in 2007 and his wife, San, followed in 2010. He said the family needs help with burial costs. The Indian Creek PTA provided food for the Thang family. A Go Fund Me account for Lun Thang has been established to assist the family with funeral expenses. At press time, $800 had been raised. “We are very saddened by Lun’s death. The faculty and community have rallied together to help the family, who are in need. We’re encouraging the public to help to contribute to the fund,” a school representative said.

Photos by Glenn L. Morgan/ OCGNews

Mourning A Little Girl A sidewalk memorial of teddy bears and a tin of cookies mark the area where Lun Thang, a 4-year-old student at Indian Creek Elementary School, was killed by a hit-and-run driver on Oct. 18. Supporters hug in front of a tent where folding metal chairs were used for a candlelight vigil that was held on the evening the child was killed. Zam Tuang, the girl’s father, stares blankly, trying to process what happened.

PAGE 6 • OCTOBER 21, 2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT ROCKDALE COUNTY GRAND JURY JULY TERM 2017

Rockdale’s Constitutional Corner

Understanding Your 2017 property tax bill

TO: The Honorable David B. Irwin, Chief Judge The Honorable Robert F. Mumford, Judge Rockdale Superior Court Rockdale Judicial Circuit We, the Grand July, selected and sworn for the July Term 2017 of the Rockdale County Superior Court, make the following presentments: 1. Criminal or Accusatory Functions All matters on the calendar for the July Term 2017 have been reviewed and the Grand Jury returned 87 True Bills, 2 No Bills and Continuances. 2. Civil Functions And Duties A. Appointments to the board of Equalization Having been notified by Rockdale County Superior Court Clerk Ruth Wilson that vacancies exist and that members and alternate members of the Rockdale County Board of Tax Equalization need to be appointed and/or redesignated, a quorum of the July Term 2017 Rockdale County Grand Jury met on July 10, 2017 and discussed the appointments. After consideration, the Grand Jury appointed and/or redesignated as follows: 1. Current alternated member Addie Sims redesignated as active member no. 2; 2. Current alternated member Ron Williams redesignated as alternate member No. 1; 3. Current alternated member Kevin York redesignated as alternated member no. 2; and 4. New member Doris Webb appointed as alternate member no. 3. Respectfully submitted Vance Head Assistant Foreperson Rockdale County Grand Jury Order The above and foregoing General Presentment of the July Term 2017 Grand Jury of Rockdale County having been returned in open court; the same is hereby approved and ordered spread upon the minutes of said Court. It is further ordered that these Presentments be published in On Common Ground Inc. This the 29th day of September, 2017 Robert F. Mumford, Judge Rockdale County Superior Court Rockdale Judicial Circuit Reviewed Richard R. Read District

By Tisa Smart Washington Rockdale Tax Commissioner

ockdale County property owners should start seeing tax bills arrive in their mailboxes soon, if they have not already. Some owners may give it a cursory look while others go over it with a fine-toothed comb. Whichever group you fall in, it is important to understand what’s included on the bill and how we determine the amount of

tax due. Bills are mailed to the owner of record as of Jan. 1. If your property taxes are paid by your mortgage company, the bank will contact us, in most cases, to obtain your tax information. However, you may provide a copy of the bill to your mortgage company just in case. If the property was sold after January 1, the bill will be sent to the previous owner. If you no longer own the property, you may forward the bill to the new owner. If you are the new owner, the bill may still be in the name of the previous owner. However, the taxes attach to the property and are still due by the deadline. The top portion of the bill contains the figures used and the calculations that make up the final amount due. In general, tax bills are calculated by multiplying 40 percent of the value of the property by the millage rate. In the spring, our Tax Assessor’s Office mailed notices to property owners with their values for 2017. And in the summer, the Board of Commissioners and the School Board set their millage rates. Now, my office calculates the tax bills using those two values. You will see a grid that separates the taxes due by the entities that receive them. There is a separate line for taxes paid to the State, County and School System. You may also see a street light fee in the grid, if applicable. Included are the fair market value of your property, the

RCPS announces National School Bus Safety Poster Contest winners As part of National School Bus Safety Week, October 16-20, 2017, Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) recently held the RCPS National School Bus Safety Poster Contest to recognize and honor our bus drivers who safely transport students to and from school. The RCPS Transportation Department recently named the winners of the contest, themed “My Driver, My Safety Hero!” In first place is Jerimyah Davis, second place is Emma Mosely, third place is Portia Kendall. All are students at Gen. Ray Davis Middle School. The poster of first place winner, Jerimyah Davis, will advance to the state contest. Pictured, left to right: Portia Kendall, Jerimyah Davis, Emma Mosely, RCPS Transportation Department Supervisor Melissa Belcher.

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value that we tax on (the 40 percent or net assessment), any exemption you may have in place, the taxable value (the 40 percent minus your exemption), the millage rate and the gross tax. If you have an exemption in place, there will also be a HOST – Homestead Option Sales Tax – credit on your bill, which reduces the amount of taxes you pay to the county by 70 percent. These figures determine your final amount due. Taxes due on a $100,000 home without exemptions will be $1,820, while taxes on a $100,000 home with a standard exemption will be $784. Other exemptions may further reduce your tax obligation. The bottom portion of the tax bill, as well as the back, contains valuable information, and a payment coupon. Please take time to read over these sections. Payments can be made online by credit or debit card; in our lobby by cash, check, or credit or debit card; or by mailing a check to our office or using the drop box in our lobby. Payments made by mail should be postmarked by the due date to avoid a late penalty. If you have any questions about your tax bill, please contact our office. We’d be happy to help you. Throughout each month, the clerk of courts, tax commissioner, sheriff and probate judge—Rockdale’s elected constitutional officers— discuss topics relevant to their respective roles.

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OCTOBER 21, 2017 • PAGE 7

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is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange and other affiliated insurance companies. Visit farmers. com for a complete listing of companies. Not all insurers are authorized to provide insurance in all states. Coverage is not available in all states. Life Insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, 3003 77th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

Darold "Mayor" Honore'

Your Local Agent 6886 MAIN ST GA 30058 Get smart aboutLITHONIA, your coverage. DHONORE@FARMERSAGENT.COM

Call 678.749.7434 today!

Restrictions apply. Discounts may vary. Not available in all states. See your agent for details. Insurance is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange and other affiliated insurance companies. Visit farmers. com for a complete listing of companies. Not all insurers are authorized to provide insurance in all states. Coverage is not available in all states. Life Insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, 3003 77th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

Call 678.749.7434 today! Get smart about your coverage.

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PAGE 8 • OCTOBER 21, 2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM