Atlanta, GA
This Atlanta church now in danger of being foreclosed on over $67K in unpaid taxes they didn’t know they owed
An Atlanta church recently found out it’s set to be auctioned off by creditors thanks to unpaid property taxes — which the administrators were never aware they had to pay.
As a registered nonprofit, Solid Rock Christian Ministries for years had been exempt from paying property taxes. That status appears to have changed in 2017 — unbeknownst to the church administration — and the organization’s debt had been piling up.
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“We had no clue that we were even getting notifications,” Pastor Jahmaul Williams told WSB-TV. “We had been considered tax exempt.”
More than 45 years ago, Williams’ grandmother had donated her northwest Atlanta house to become the church. But Williams says the church didn’t even realize tax bills were coming in since they were being mailed to a former pastor — who died in 1996.
Administrators became aware they owed back taxes when a groundskeeper noticed a piece of paper tucked under the doormat at the church’s front entrance. As it turns out, Fulton County had sold the tax debt to collection agency Investa Services, which is now pushing to foreclose in August unless the church pays $67,000 in tax debt, interest and fees.
“We have been notified that they are going to try to sell our property on the courthouse steps,” Williams said.
What happened
A county official reportedly told state Sen. Donzella James they revoked the church’s property tax exemption because its title included a person’s name (even though it always has).
The owner is recorded as “Johnson Carrie Admr Church,” named after the church’s first pastor, Carrie Johnson, who died in 1989.
“I cannot understand how a church that is active and functioning in the community could be changed from nonprofit to profit,” James told WSB-TV.
“It’s a lot of people dropping balls here. And now we need to stop this and give them an opportunity to satisfy, rather than have their property sold on the courthouse steps.”
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What’s going to happen next?
The Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta says “all property owned by and operated exclusively as a church or other religious association” is exempt from property taxes.
However, the National Council of Nonprofits notes most state laws require nonprofit corporations to periodically confirm or update their basic contact information, like their mailing address and the names of responsible parties.
WSB-TV reports that under Georgia law, third-party lien holders must notify you within 60 days of assuming your debt and can charge you a one-time 10% penalty, with 1% interest accruing each month.
They must also wait 12 months before foreclosure.
The church has apparently hired a lawyer and is hoping to fix the title issue.
“We should not be taxed,” Williams said. “We are a church. We’ve been known to be a ministry.”
What to read next
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Atlanta, GA
Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta
Atlanta Hawks (19-21, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (21-18, eighth in the Western Conference)
San Francisco; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Golden State will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Warriors face Atlanta.
The Warriors are 13-5 on their home court. Golden State is 9-12 against opponents over .500.
The Hawks have gone 12-10 away from home. Atlanta ranks second in the league scoring 17.6 fast break points per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads the Hawks averaging 3.9.
The Warriors average 15.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Hawks give up. The Hawks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Warriors allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jimmy Butler III is averaging 19.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Warriors. Stephen Curry is averaging 25.7 points and 5.1 assists over the past 10 games.
Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Hawks. Jalen Johnson is averaging 21.1 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 7-3, averaging 120.1 points, 42.5 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.0 points per game.
Hawks: 4-6, averaging 116.9 points, 42.4 rebounds, 31.9 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Seth Curry: out (thigh).
Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Zaccharie Risacher: out (knee), CJ McCollum: out (quad), N’Faly Dante: out for season (knee), Corey Kispert: out (hamstring).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Atlanta, GA
Flood watch expands into metro Atlanta ahead of severe storm threat
Friday evening forecast: Rain train en route
A powerful weather system is currently moving through North Georgia, replacing unseasonable record warmth with heavy rain and potential severe storms. The FOX 5 Storm Team is tracking a “rain train” of moisture that could dump over 4 inches of rain in some areas, prompting active flood warnings across the region.
ATLANTA – A powerful weather front is moving into metro Atlanta, prompting officials to expand flood watches as “wave-after-wave” of heavy rain threatens to saturate the region through Saturday.
The FOX 5 Storm Team warn that storm totals could reach four inches in some areas, with isolated spots in North Georgia potentially seeing up to six inches.
Flood Watch in northwest Georgia
What we know:
A Flood Watch is currently in effect through Saturday evening for a large portion of North Georgia. The region is bracing for widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches. Some areas could see locally higher amounts reaching up to 6 inches before a cold front moves through Saturday afternoon to end the threat.
“The rain train is wide open and here it comes,” said FOX 5 Storm Team chief meteorologist David Chandley. “We got waves of rain tonight and storms. They’re going to be with us tonight and right on through Saturday.”
In the northwest, the watch includes Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Towns, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield counties.
KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST BY DOWNLOADING THE FREE FOX 5 STORM TEAM APP AND FOLLOWING @FOX5STORMTEAM ON X
Flooding risk, high winds
Local perspective:
Thunderstorms expected overnight and into early Saturday morning are a primary concern.
The primary concern for North Georgia remains damaging winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding. While the threat of severe weather is lower Friday night, the FOX 5 Storm Team expects conditions to change as the front arrives Saturday morning.
“Flooding [is] possible in Northwest Georgia with that severe threat,” Chandley said. “I expect we may see some of those [flash flood warnings] across North Georgia late tonight and early tomorrow because that ground is going to be saturated.”
A Level 1 “marginal risk” for severe storms has been issued for most of the area, though regions near Columbus face a slightly higher “slight risk.” Forecasters noted that while the atmosphere currently lacks the instability for massive thunderstorms, a “brief, spin-up tornado” cannot be ruled out on Saturday.
What’s next:
Sunday: Windy and much colder, with highs struggling to reach the 40s and 50s.
Monday: Temperatures are expected to plummet into the 20s by Monday morning.
The Source: This article contains an original forecast by the FOX 5 Storm Team.
Atlanta, GA
Serious crashes block Atlanta’s Downtown Connector, Lawrenceville Highway early Friday
ATLANTA – A major crash involving eight vehicles shut down all southbound lanes of the Downtown Connector early Friday morning, causing significant traffic delays near University Avenue.
What we know:
The crash was reported on Interstate 75/Interstate 85 just before University Avenue, with injuries confirmed at the scene. Traffic was being diverted off the connector at Interstate 20, Exit 247, while the entrance ramp from I-20 to the connector southbound was also closed. Drivers were advised to use Exit 56A to McDaniel Street or alternate routes including Metropolitan Parkway or Interstate 285. The scene was cleared and lanes began reopening around 6:30 a.m. FOX 5 Atlanta is waiting for a final report on what happened.
A separate serious injury crash was also reported in DeKalb County on Lawrenceville Highway westbound between Montreal Road and Interstate 285. All lanes were blocked, and authorities said the incident involved a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Both investigations were ongoing. The scene was cleared and lanes reopened around 6:45 a.m., according to Georgia Department of Transportation.
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