Local school leaders hear concerns on opting out of tax-hike cap
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - On Monday, the Richmond County School Board hosted a hearing on a new homestead tax exemption law.
More than 60% of voters in November said yes to the homestead exemption question on the ballot, which could put a cap on tax hikes on your home.
The law establishes a floating homestead exemption, which limits the annual increase in property tax assessments on homestead properties to the rate of inflation for the previous year. The law also allows local governing bodies a one-time opportunity to opt out of the exemption.
What does homestead exemption law mean for you?
With the new year comes new laws and one such law in Georgia has to do with protecting homeowners from big spikes in property tax values.
Both the county government and the board of education have to each hold three meetings to decide whether they will opt in or out of the cap on property tax increases enacted under the new Georgia law.
The Richmond County Board of Education held a hearing Monday.
One man who attended the meeting talked about his concerns if the county opts out.
“The way I’m looking at it as a disabled veteran homeowner, I don’t need any more burden placed on me to be able to stay and live here in Richmond County,” says a resident of Richmond County. “They’ve already increased everything here from water to power to our tax, to the board of education. We do not need to opt out of this.”
Augusta schedules 3 hearings on new property tax law
Augusta-Richmond County has scheduled three public hearings on the homestead exemption law that could impact your property taxes.
There will be two more meetings held to discuss the homestead tax exemption:
- Feb. 11 at 3:30 p.m.
- Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
The school board also approved some new positions during tonight’s meeting.
Marcus Allen was approved as interim deputy superintendent of Richmond County Schools. He currently is the assistant superintendent of Student Services.
Tonya Cogle was named the interim principal of Copeland Elementary, Ricquetta Prescott as assistant principal of Lucy Laney High School and Dr. Karyn Warren as special education coordinator.
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