Here are LAKE videos of yesterday’s Public Hearing about Lowndes County considering opting out of the statewide homestead exemption legislated last year by HB 581, effective January 1, 2025.

There will be another Public Hearing this evening, Tuesday, February 11 at 6:00 p.m.

A final Public Hearing will be Monday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m.

The Lowndes County Commission will vote on the subject on Tuesday, February 25.

So go to one of these public hearings and speak up, or call or write your Lowndes County Commissioner.

Collage @ LCC Public Hearing 10 February 2025

After the videos below, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, there is a LAKE video playlist.

Plus a link to the LAKE video of the Lowndes County Commission decision on January 28, 2025, to hold these Public Hearings, and a copy of the Lowndes County press release announcing these Public Hearings.

As well as the text of the referendum that appeared on the November 5, 2024, general election ballot, the text of HB 581, and links to guidance by ACCG and GMA,

Personally, I find this point alone convincing:

• Lowndes County already has a $6,000 homestead exemption for homeowners up to 65 years of age and a $10,000 homestead exemption for homeowners 65 and older. These exemptions are significantly more than the state statutory exemptions.

FYI, I have reason to believe the City of Valdosta is equally concerned about HB 581.

• Lowndes County Considers Opting Out of House Bill 581 Presentation
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/tItzSsmkvZc

  Presentation portion of public hearing.

• Lowndes County Considers Opting Out of House Bill 581
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/4rFKvnW78Vo

  The public hearing portion where citizens could comment.

  The commission of course does not answer their questions or engage.

Here is the LAKE video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiF2QGnnyECy1XBhotAwGQF2&si=lVgmmp4pwG1e1vTu

Lowndes County Commission decision to hold these Public Hearings

Here is a link to the LAKE video of the Lowndes County Commission decision on January 28, 2025, to hold these Public Hearings:
https://youtu.be/skm5cqwS-kY

Lowndes County press release

Lowndes County Considers Opting Out of House Bill 581

DATE: Friday, January 31, 2025
CONTACT: Meghan Barwick, Public Information Officer
Telephone: (229) 671-2491
meghan.barwick@lowndescounty.com
www.lowndescounty.com

Lowndes County, Georgia: House Bill 581 was authorized by a 2024 constitutional amendment aimed at creating a floating statewide homestead exemption that limits increases in taxable home values to the prior year’s inflation rate.

The legislation recognizes that local governments and school systems in Georgia are structured differently with regards to revenues required to provide services. Each is provided the option either to remain a part of the new homestead exemption or to opt out of the exemption. The very nature of the process and the ballot language presented provides for local elected officials to evaluate local processes to determine the best option for the citizens that they serve. If a local government chooses to “opt out”, it can be opted back in by a new homestead exemption implemented in the future. However, if a local government remains “in”, there is not an option in the statute to opt back out in the event of changed circumstances or unintended consequences.

Local government officials are elected to govern locally. If a local government or school system stays in, House Bill 581 would erode the ability of local elected officials to represent taxpayers by narrowing options for making the best and most efficient allocation of revenues as tax dollars are returned to citizens through services each budget year.

Current considerations for Lowndes County include the following:

• The gap between the actual fair market value and the capped value will increase over time and could result in a need to increase millage rates to make up the difference in revenue required to provide services.
• Homestead property owners would have stability in the amount of increase annually.
• The percentage increase would be determined by an inflationary index chosen by the revenue commissioner of the state of Georgia, someone local citizens did not elect.
• The benefit to homestead property owners would increase over time as long as they own the property.
• The benefit is also not equitable from the beginning, if ALL homestead properties are not valued properly.
• Taxes on other properties (rentals, businesses, farms, etc.) would increase to make up for the benefit to homestead properties. This could have a substantial negative impact on business, industry, affordable housing, rental rates, and Lowndes County’s agricultural community.
• Tax inequities would be created based on long-term ownership versus newer ownership.
• The exemption may disincentivize sale of homestead properties.
• It may also disincentive the recruitment or expansion of businesses to Lowndes County.
• Lowndes County already has a $6,000 homestead exemption for homeowners up to 65 years of age and a $10,000 homestead exemption for homeowners 65 and older. These exemptions are significantly more than the state statutory exemptions.

House Bill 581 will not have the same consequences for every city, county, and school system across the state. Some local governments and school systems in Georgia may stay in or opt out partly due to other local exemptions that provide relief to property owners.

Lowndes County is sensitive to rising property assessments. Those 65 and older may be financially vulnerable due to increases in the cost of living to include rising property values. “Lowndes County is committed to working with other local governments and the school systems in our community to explore an even more meaningful senior exemption,” stated Chairman Bill Slaughter. “An increased senior exemption will provide an immediate benefit without significantly shifting a portion of taxes to non-homestead parcels,” Slaughter added.

In accordance with guidelines set forth by House Bill 581, Lowndes County will hold three public hearings as follows:

• Monday, February 10 at 9:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, February 11 at 6:00 p.m.
• Monday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m.

All hearings will be held in the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners Meeting Chambers, second floor, 327 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601.

Amendment 1, November 5, 2024

This is what appeared on the November 5, 2024, general election ballot as referendum 1 for a state constitutional amendment:

– 1 –

Provides for a general law state-wide homestead exemption that may differentiate among political subdivisions.

House Resolution No. 1022

Ga. L. 2024, p. 1191

“( ) YES

( ) NO

Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for a state-wide homestead exemption that serves to limit increases in the assessed value of homesteads, but which any county, consolidated government, municipality, or local school system may opt out of upon the completion of certain procedures?”

Summary

This proposal amends Article VII, Section II, Paragraph II of the Georgia Constitution to add a new subparagraph (a.1) to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for a state-wide uniform homestead exemption. The law may limit this exemption to different political subdivisions that do not already have existing homestead exemptions, and may provide for political subdivisions to opt out, or for future political subdivisions to opt in.

A copy of this entire proposed constitutional amendment is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court and is available for public inspection.

HB 581

This is the Georgia General Assembly page on HB 581:
https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/64811

This appears to be the text of HB 581:
https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20232024/229562

Slides for HB 581 Summary and Guidance, ACCG & GMA Joint LPC Meeting, Chateau Elan, September 4, 2024
https://accg.org/links/HB%20581%20LPC%20Presentation%20v2.pdf

Text PDF of guidance for HB 581 by Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and Georgia Municipal Association (GMA):
https://accg.org/links/Local%20Government%20HB%20581%20Opt-Out%20Period%20Ends%20March%201.pdf

-jsq

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