Legislators Discuss Hartsfield-Jackson’s Tax Exemption
A contentious legislative effort is underway to strip Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport of its tax-exempt status. Airport officials argue that the additional tax funds they generate benefit their partners, while Clayton County officials maintain the county should have received payments all along. We hear from Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) and Sen. Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta) on this issue.
ATLANTA – A significant dispute over taxation, centered on Atlanta’s airport, is stirring within the state legislature.
What Proponents Are Saying:
Rep. Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale) and Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex), both representing Clayton County, are sponsoring a bill to terminate a long-standing tax exemption for Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Though the majority of the airport resides in Clayton County, the city of Atlanta has not remitted county property taxes for roughly eight decades.
Burnough estimates that this proposed change could generate approximately $50 million annually for Clayton County and adjacent cities, a revenue stream she asserts is long overdue.
“It’s about the residents of Clayton County receiving what they’re entitled to so we can have funds for sustainability,” Burnough stated. “That’s the key term, sustainability. With that money, we will be able to ensure the long-term viability of our county.”
The Opposing View:
The proposal faces substantial opposition from Atlanta’s delegation members in both the House and Senate.
Opponents caution that implementing this change would cause more harm than good, arguing that Hartsfield reinvests its earnings into operations and economic development, which benefits the entire state.
“No other major airport in this nation pays property tax,” said Sen. Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta), “not a single one. When you modify the economic cost structure of an airport of this magnitude, there will be subsequent ramifications.”
What’s Next:
The bill is expected to potentially come up for a vote in the House sometime this week.
Source Information: This is an original report from FOX 5.