Mableton seniors, fixed-income residents to get relief on public safety taxes

Share Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Mableton seniors and fixed-income residents will get some relief on their public safety taxes after a city council vote Tuesday. The city Tuesday passed a hardship relief tax program for its public safety special service district tax. “This is what responsible government looks like,” said Mayor Michael Owens. “We were able to still have a pathway to fund our public safety efforts, do the responsible thing, but also be compassionate, be leaders that understand what time that we’re in and things that are going on, and be able to offer this crucial relief.” Eligible residents will receive flexible payment plans and have their late fees waived. Residents will not need to provide documentation of hardship. “Without the ability to look at every single family and understand what their challenges are, we have to make this broad enough,” said Owens. Applicants must sign an affidavit under oath that they have suffered from hardship in the last six months, including: Involuntary job loss Recent unemployment Substantial household income reduction Serious illness, medical emergencies, or significant out-of-pocket health expenses Disability or material loss of earning capacity Death of an income-contributing household member or major changes in family status Unforeseen disaster expenses, displacement, or property damage The program does not create a tax exemption nor reduce the tax amount owed. Instead, 10% of the resident’s bill is due when an affidavit is signed, followed by four payments of 25% of the remaining balance every month until April 4, including interest. It will be the responsibility of the resident to make payments on time, either online or in person. “There’s a lot of people that probably won’t even be able to make those four months. You know, but it is what it is, and we’re here,” said Denny Wilson, a Mableton resident. Wilson said she already paid her tax but said she fears the program might extend the hardship for some. “It’s a little bit of relief, but it’s not really a relief,” said Wilson. “They can call it a relief, and maybe it’s a relief to them, but it’s not a relief to the people who can’t afford to pay it.” Wilson said relief looks like a lower tax amount owed or a complete exemption. “We wanted to be able to leverage everything we potentially could do to be able to provide some relief. I will be the first to say it’s not a silver bullet, but it is a compassionate solution to get people through trying times,” Owens said. In the meantime, the city said the program also allows it to hold off the tax execution so that homeowners do not receive a lien for the late payments. The city said it is unclear how many people will need the program. According to the city, applications are expected to roll out next week. To qualify, residents must fill out an application by Dec. 4. “We’re going to make this process as streamlined as possible,” said Owens. Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.