Columbia County Board of Commissioners will hold its first public hearing regarding House Bill 581 on Tuesday.
At the Jan. 7 commission meeting, Chairman Doug Duncan said the commission has not decided whether to opt-out of the law or not, but they are required to advertise it as such to hold the public hearings.
“I think we have to analyze it make sure it is (the right step for the county) in a fast growing county we may be adding 5,000 residents a year, so we have to make sure we can provide the services required with how the money is compressed down based on the law,” Duncan said previously.
House Bill 581, which was approved in November, creates a floating homestead exemption that would limit property tax increases to the rate of inflation instead of basing them on reassessments.
The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at the Evans Government Center Complex. The other two hearings will be held Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. The commissioners will have to decide by March 1 whether to opt out of the exemption.
Other entities discussing HB 581
The Richmond County Board of Education has held one public hearing so far. At that meeting, Richmond County Schools’ Chief Financial Officer Bobby Smith said a survey by the Georgia School Superintendents Association found approximately 86 school districts, intend to opt out, the Augusta Press previously reported. Richmond County’s reasons to opt out include the cap that already limits millage rate increases when Augusta’s tax digest grows, Smith said. The district has set tax rates at the cap in two of the last five years.
The Augusta Commission recently heard arguments for and against the homestead exemption. The Augusta Press previously reported that the Augusta Chamber is in favor of opting out. However, several community members have spoken out against it.
“I just don’t understand why anyone would consider taking the voices of 48,000 Richmond countians and tossing them away,” said former Augusta mayor Bob Young, who has emerged as an outspoken critic of opting out. In the referendum, some 62% of Richmond County voters said yes to the tax break.
The City of Grovetown approved holding the three public hearings during its meeting on Jan. 13. Finance Director Bradley Smith told the council that a schedule for the hearings will be distributed to councilmembers for approval before being advertised to the public, the Augusta Press previously reported.
The Columbia County Board of Education will hold its three public hearings on Jan. 27 at 8 a.m., Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. and Jan. 29 at 8 a.m. All will be held at the Board of Education office on Hereford Farm Road.
