The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will hold the third of four public hearings regarding House Bill 581 on Tuesday.
Many members of the public attended the first two public hearings, with some speaking in favor of opting out and some speaking in favor of opting in.
During the second public hearing, County Manager Scott Johnson said there are three pieces to the law: the floating homestead exemption, the optional sales tax and property tax reforms.
The optional sales tax can only be used if the entity opts in to House Bill 581 but must be voted on by citizens in November. All the funds from that sales tax must be used to offset property taxes. However, Johnson informed commissioners that all entities, so the county and two cities, must opt in to be eligible for the optional sales tax.
MORE: Columbia County holds second public hearing on House Bill 581
“Additionally, the only way for us to get the sales tax…is for us to even be able to put the sales tax on the ballot in November, the City of Grovetown and City of Harlem would have to opt in and do the same,” Johnson said. “My understanding is if one of them opts out, then it opts out all of us out.”
Johnson added that once the county opts in, they can’t opt out later on.
A decision on opting in or opting out must be made by March 1. The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 in the auditorium at the Evans Government Center.
MORE: Columbia County holds first House Bill 581 public hearing
Regular commission meeting
Following the public hearing, the Columbia County Board of Commissioners will hold its regular meeting.
On the agenda is resolution 25-02 that is amending the Parks and Recreation Facility Rental and Membership fee schedule. The county is looking to establish a fee schedule for pickleball memberships at the Columbia County Racquet Center. According to the proposed fee schedule, membership would be free for Columbia County residents and $500 per year for non-Columbia County residents.
For full agendas, visit columbiacountyga.gov.
