For South Hall residents who are already done with their income tax returns, they can now turn their attention to property taxes.

The South Hall Republican Club is hosting an educational forum on property taxes at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Spout Springs Library in Flowery Branch.

The forum, which will feature two Hall tax appraisers and the county clerk, is designed to give residents information on how property assessments are assigned and inform who can be eligible for tax exemptions, said Ed Asbridge, president of the club.

Hall County property tax assessments will be sent out in April.

Hall's Chief Appraiser Steve Watson will offer a presentation on how the process works and lay out the guidelines for homestead exemptions. He'll also give his predictions of the county's tax digest - which is expected to decline again - and try to answer some South Hall-specific questions for residents.

The majority of the club's members are residents of the Sterling on the Lake community. There were about 46 property transactions in that Flowery Branch community, Watson told The Times, that will help his office determine the direction of values. However, Watson said he won't be able to tell residents specifically if that community's property is valued up or down this tax season.

Don Elrod, deputy chief appraiser, and Hall Clerk of Court Charles Baker will address the audience at the forum. Baker will offer some details about appealing assessments.

Tuesday's event is one of the South Hall Republican Club's monthly forums aimed at educating and engaging area residents.

"One of our goals is to just get people involved and aware of what's going on in government," said Asbridge.

The club offered a forum for Flowery Branch City Council candidates to talk about their ideas in February.

Candidates for other 2012 races will get their chance to meet South Hall residents in upcoming forums.

The club was started in July with Sterling on the Lake residents, but has expanded it reach with 68 members.

Asbridge said 14 have joined within the last month.