Both of Columbia County’s incorporated municipalities have voted to opt out of Georgia House Bill 581.
The city councils of Grovetown and Harlem convened for special called meetings, Thursday evening, both at 6 p.m., to vote on whether to opt out of a homestead exemption outlined in the legislation, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in April of last year.
The bill would provide a statewide floating homestead exemption capping assessment increases on homesteaded properties.
Both cities hosted their three required public hearings to discuss with constituents the option to opt out, noting in each of those meetings that the cities may have to consider decreasing services or raising millage rates to mitigate the loss of revenue due to the homestead cap.
During Grovetown’s meeting on Thursday, finance director Bradley Smith, responding to a question by Mayor Gary Jones, noted to council members that “100%” of locals who showed up to the city’s special hearings about the bill favored the city’s opting out of the homestead exemption.
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“Each meeting that we had someone attend, all comments were in support of opting out,” said Smith, mentioning that comments from residents on the matter on social media was “more split.”
Harlem Mayor Roxanne Whitaker said, regarding opting out of the exemption, that while the city would prefer to have a tax cap, but not at the expense of most of the town’s citizens—as the homestead exemption would only affect 30% of the town’s homeowners.
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Both meetings were brief, lasting less than 10 minutes. In Grovetown, Councilman Richard Bowman made a motion to vote to opt out of the bill’s floating homestead exemption, and Councilman Eric Blair seconded. This was followed by a vote, motioned by Councilwoman Sylvia Martin and also seconded by Blair, to opt out of Bill 581. In Harlem, Councilman John Thigpen’s motion was seconded by Councilman Gregg Stokes.
Both councils voted unanimously.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
