Twiggs County official investigated over illegal tax breaks

A middle Georgia official is under investigation for using a disabled veterans’ tax break to make his son’s new home exempt from property taxes.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation special agent J.T. Riketson tells WMAZ-TV (http://on.wmaz.com/2bG9gnC ) Friday that Twiggs County Commissioner Tommie Lee Bryant is accused of illegally transferring a property tax break to another person. The local tax exemption is for disabled veterans.

County tax assessor’s board chairman Walter Ashby says a tax office employee moved the exemption to a new house owned by Bryant and his son. The employee is Bryant’s relative.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the employee gave Bryant another tax break on his primary home. The employee has been fired.

Ashby says Bryant has not paid taxes in the last 20 years on the home in Jefferson, a town southeast of Macon.

Read more: http://evans.allongeorgia.com/middle-georgia-official-investigated-over-illegal-tax-breaks/