The Columbia County School District has initiated proceedings to increase school property tax homestead exemptions, decreasing the amount that homeowners will pay in taxes.
The current exemption is $2,000 per homeowner, an amount that the school board proposed to increase to $10,000, effective after the passing of local legislation and the approval of voters.
“The homestead exemption for school property taxes has been $2,000 for longer than most people in this room have been alive, 40 years or so,” said Chairman David Dekle.
“I feel like it’s time we addressed this,” he added.
As with House Bill 581, the increase in homestead exemptions requires a vote from the board, a notice to be run by local media outlets, followed by the passing of local legislation. The issue would then go to voters as a referendum in the November election.
It was stated at a March 11 school board meeting that this exemption would be “across the board” for all homeowners.
Board members said that the exemption increase was proposed quickly, noting that there’s an April deadline to get legislation drafted.
Along with time constraints, board member Katie Allen said moves are being made quickly since the increase would be “favorable to everybody across the board.”
At a Feb. 11 school board meeting, the district voted 3-2 to opt out of House Bill 581.
