This is the map of the special tax that Villa Rica was able to get voter approval for to build the road that goes through the Cleghorn-Anderson community.

City officials said that they needed federal funds to build this road in Cleghorn-Anderson because it’s an “underserved minority community.”

These residents not only have to worry about part or all of their properties being taken for little to no compensation. They also are paying much higher taxes than more affluent communities. As the map shows, their community is affected by the special tax while other areas, the ones that stand to benefit from a road directly to downtown are not included in the special tax.

For example, there are homes on Anderson Rd with estimated property values of about $150,000 that are now paying almost $2000 in taxes every year.  One family is paying $3000 per year for a home worth $250,000. On the other hand…the mayor’s home just outside of Mirror Lake is worth over $330K and her taxes are only $800 per year. Although assessed at a much higher value than homes in Cleghorn/Anderson homes like the Mayors are charged less than half or a third of the property taxes.

This community should have been provided a real opportunity to give input on this plan that was going to impact and cost them so much.

Cleghorn-Anderson residents deserve a voice, an apology and refunds for these ridiculously high taxes. After that, the City should leave them alone.  

Note that there's a history of using taxation to rob Black people of their land. Check out this article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/us/black-americans-homeownership.html?unlocked_article_code=1.IE4.ygtF.9HFBldk0ydZP&smid=url-share