Augusta latest community told to repay Department of Revenue, perhaps $7 million. Hufstetler talks reform on Hometown Radio today.

Another Georgia community is dealing with rebate demands from the state Department of Revenue, according to this story from the Augusta Chronicle. DOR has told Augusta leaders that “the city must return millions in sales taxes overpaid by aircraft maintenance company Standard Aero. . . .Several Augusta Commission members said General Counsel Andrew MacKenzie informed them the city is on the hook for as much as $7 million.”

The story outlines two other such cases in recent months:

• “Earlier this year, Burke County officials bemoaned having to repay a combined $2 million to Georgia Power for sales taxes the company continued to pay on parts used at Plant Vogtle, despite an exemption put into law in 2001, according to published reports.
• “Rome and Floyd Co., Ga., including school systems in both are having to repay a combined $4.5 million in sales taxes overpaid starting in 2005 because of a local company’s unspecified accounting error, according to news reports there.”

The Rome/Floyd case prompted a huge call to action by Rome City Commissioner Evie McNiece — working as a commissioner and board member of the Georgia Municipal Association — as well the appointment of an ad hoc committee chaired by Cedartown Republican Rep. Trey Kelley to take a closer look at the Rome and related cases as well as find solutions (including the high interest payments communities have to make in addition to returning the capital sent to them in error).

State Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, also has been pursing some changes given the rebate’s impact on Floyd County governments. Hufstetler will join us at 7:40 a.m. Wednesday on the Hometown Headlines Radio Edition on WRGA 98.7 FM or streaming at wrga.stream.fm.