The Lowndes County Commission is considering doing what the Lowndes County School System is doing: opting out of the homestead exemption scheme passed by the state legislature as HB 581. The county already has better homestead exemptions for both people younger than 65 years and older. Staying in would have no option of opting out later. Opting out leaves the possibility of opting in later.
![[Final Public Hearing, Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, HB 581 @ LCC 2025-02-24]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2025-02-24--lowndes-county-opt-out-hb-581-homestead-exemptions/fbmany.jpg)
Final Public Hearing, Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, HB 581 @ LCC 2025-02-24
At the previous two hearing, Commissioners did not seem in favor of the state’s idea of an additional one-cent sales tax to reimburse property owners.
LAKE videos and minutes of the two previous Public Hearings are here:
- 2025-02-10:
- 2025-02-11:
![[Intent To Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, Third and Final Public Hearing 2025-02-24]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2025-02-24--lowndes-county-opt-out-hb-581-homestead-exemptions/Intent-To-Opt-Out-of-Homestead-Exemption-2-24-25-0001.jpg)
Intent To Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, Third and Final Public Hearing 2025-02-24
PDF
INTENT TO OPT OUT OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
The Lowndes County Board of Commissioners intends to opt out of the statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemption for Lowndes County.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this matter to be held in the Board of Commissioners Chambers, located in the Lowndes County Judicial and Administrative Complex, 327 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, Georgia, on February 24, 2025, at 9:00 A.M.
This will be the third and final public hearing on this matter.
The Lowndes County Commission will vote on the subject soon, maybe tomorrow, Tuesday, February 25, although that item is not yet on its agenda.
So go to that last public hearing and speak up, or call or write your Lowndes County Commissioner.
For other related material (the bill, the Lowndes County press release, the ACCG and GMA position, etc.), see the LAKE blog post on the first such Public Hearing:
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/?p=24786
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