Less than 56 



56 to 65 



66 to 75 



76 to 85 



86 to 95 



96 to 105 

 106 to 115 

 116 and over 



Less than 56 



56 to 65 



66 to 75 



76 to 85 



86 to 95 



96 to 105 

 106 to 115 

 116 and over 



Less than 56 



56 to 65 



66 to 75 



76 to 85 



86 to 95 



96 to 105 

 106 to 115 

 116 and over 



Less than 56 



56 to 65 



66 to 75 



76 to 85 



86 to 95 



96 to 105 

 106 to 115 

 116 and over 



Table 1. — Continued 



Ratio =30 

 $ 0.37— 1.50 

 S 1.50— 3.60 

 $ 3.60— 6.00 

 .1 6.00— 9.00 

 $ 9.00—12.00 

 $12.00—18.00 

 $18.00—24.00 

 $24.00—30.00 



Ratio = 50 

 $ 0.65— 2.50 

 $ 2.50— 6.00 

 $ 6.00—10.00 

 $10.00—15.00 

 $15.00—20.00 

 $20.00—30.00 

 $30.00—40.00 

 $40.00—50.00 



Ratio =70 

 $ 0.87— 3.50 

 $ 3.50— 8.40 

 $ 8.40—14.00 

 $14.00—21.00 

 $21.00—28.00 

 $28.00—42.00 

 $42.00—56.00 

 $56.00—70.00 



Ratio =90 

 $ 1.12— 4.50 

 $ 4.50—10.80 

 $10.80—18.00 

 $18.00—27.00 

 $27.00—36.00 

 $36.00—54.00 

 $54.00—72.00 

 $72.00—90.00 



Ratio =40 

 $ 0.50— 2.00 

 $ 2.00- 

 $ 4.80- 

 $ 8.00- 

 $12.00- 

 $16.00- 

 $24.00- 

 $32.00- 



4.80 

 8.00 

 12.00 

 16.00 

 24.00 

 32.00 

 40.00 



Ratio = 60 

 $ 0.75— 3.00 

 $ 3.00— 7.20 

 $ 7.20— 12.00 

 $12.00— 18.00 

 $18.00— 24.00 

 $24.00— 36.00 

 $36.00— 48.00 

 $48.00— 60.00 



Ratio =80 

 $ 1.00— 4.00 

 $ 4.00— 9.60 

 $ 9.60— 16.00 

 $16.00— 24.00 

 $24.00— 32.00 

 $32.00— 48.00 

 $48.00— 64.00 

 $64.00— 80.00 



Ratio = 

 $ 1.25— 

 $ 5.00— 

 $12.00— 

 $20.00— 

 $30.00— 

 $40.00— 

 $60.00— 

 $80.00 



100 

 5.00 

 12.00 

 20.00 

 30.00 

 40.00 

 60.00 

 80.00 

 100.00 



The approximate average site index for for- 

 est land in Georgia is 70 feet. Using the 70 

 foot class as a base figure, projections of costs 

 and returns and average sales prices indicate 

 that the fair market value of the land should 

 be from $12.00 to $20.00. s Using the 40% as- 

 sessment ratio recommended by the State 

 Revenue Department for revaluation studies, 

 the range of assesed values would be from 

 $4.80 to $8.00. Growth and yield studies fur- 

 nish a guide for variations from the base fig- 

 ure of 70 feet. On this basis a millage rate of 

 50 times the assessed values gives a range of 

 $0.25 to $0.40 as the tax to be levied for site 

 index 70 in the Coastal Plains Resource Area. 

 In 1963 the average median range of taxes 

 was $0.26 to $0.45. 



Tables 1 through 3 indicate the assessment 

 values based upon the values supplied by Size- 

 more. They represent the assessment ratios 

 from 10 to 100 percent by 10 percent incre- 

 ments for the three major geographical areas. 

 These, of course could vary with the base 

 value assigned to the various site index classes 



8 Sizemore, William R., unpublished dissertation, Uni- 

 versity of Georgia, 1964. 



of land and can easily be re-evaluated using 

 computers when deemed necessary. 



To be objective the local assessor could de- 

 termine the base level within the range of 

 assessed values at which the average owner- 

 ship from the standpoint of location of the 

 property will be placed. If he determines this 

 to be $6.50 (mid-point of range) for site in- 

 dex class 66-75 he then must determine if this 

 particular property should be assessed either 

 below or above the base value for the class by 

 the use of locational factors such as nearness 

 to roads, accessibility, etc. 



In some instances questions will arise on 

 a particular property as to whether it should 

 be properly classed as forest land or for some 

 higher use. These questions of necessity must 

 be left to the local assessor, and to the arbitra- 

 tion procedure when disagreements between 

 the assessor and landowner arise. 



This proposed assessment guide fulfills to a 

 degree the requirements of the ideal tax sys- 

 tem. It can be administered effectively and at 

 low cost compared to returns expected. It 

 should help to standardize assessments be- 

 tween and within counties. It allows land- 

 owners to predict with reasonable accuracy 

 their tax liability. It eliminates the necessity 

 of trying to determine annually the constantly 

 changing amount, quality, and value of the 

 standing timber by the local assessor. Local 

 governments are assured of a stable tax base 

 which is not possible with the yield tax, be- 

 cause of fluctuating volumes of timber cut 

 from year to year. It places the taxation of 

 forest land on the same basis as agricultural 

 land, i.e., productive capacity. Further, it is 

 a system which will allow forest owners to 

 manage their lands for the production of goods 

 and services for the public on a businesslike 

 basis. There would be in effect a penalty on 

 the owner who did not properly manage his 

 lands in that he would have to pay taxes as 

 great as those who do with the same class of 

 land. 



While there are many refinements which 

 could be introduced into this system, one of its 

 greatest assets is its simplicity. It represents a 

 reasonable and equitable approach to the as- 

 sessment of forest land and would do much for 

 the progress of Georgia. 



APPENDIX 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR DETERMINATION 



OF AVERAGE SITE INDEX OF A 



FOREST PROPERTY 



29 



