‘We want to get it right’: Columbia County discusses optional homestead exemption

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - On Tuesday, Columbia County officials looked at a measure voters approved in Nov. that would implement a statewide optional homestead exemption from taxes.

This means local governments have a chance to opt out of the new Georgia law that puts a cap on tax increases on your home.

House Bill 581 is meant to change how local governments look at property taxes with your homestead exemption.

Lawmakers drafted this with the purpose of putting a cap on how much property taxes could rise each year to prevent tax spikes.

It’s a new system meant to ease the burden on people with fixed incomes or salaries that can’t keep up with growing market values.

Columbia County commissioners are tackling the big question of how to address taxes moving forward.

“You only get so many bites at the apple to control taxes, and we want to get it right,” says Doug Duncan, chairman of Columbia County Commission.

House Bill 581 is something every local government and school district in Georgia will have to consider.

If entities opt into the law, it could save taxpayers dollars down the road by making property taxes scale and adjust to inflation instead of actual market value.

Columbia County leaders say it’s a complicated subject and they need time to determine what’s best.

“I think what we have to do is analyze it to make sure that it is in a fast-growing county, we may be adding 5000 residents a year, and so we just have to make sure that we can provide the services required with how the money is compressed down based on the law,” says Duncan.

The law also allows government and school districts to implement an additional sales tax to compensate for any revenue lost under the new system.

A subject with a lot of moving pieces that Columbia County officials say all 159 Georgia counties will have to consider.

“Even for me, I mean, I want to understand, is it the right thing to do? What is the difference between what the state has ed and is imposing based on where we are now, again, fast-growing counties will be the biggest counties challenged, and we’re one of those,” says Duncan.

Columbia County voted to move forward by scheduling three public meetings to further discuss and inform the public on how this will impact your wallet.

If they do nothing the law will automatically go into effect and if they opt out taxes will remain the same as they did before.

All local governments and school boards have until March 1 to decide what they will do and if they opt out, it will go to the state for approval.

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