Staff Reports

TIFTON — The Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association are working to inform residents about House Bill 581 and its accompanying resolution that will be on this year’s ballot.

With Election Day just around the corner, the two state organizations have announced a collection of educational resources detailing the ins and outs of the bill that they have co-opted, so as to better inform residents’ decisions regarding the question of a constitutional amendment they will be presented with when voting.

The bill, also known as the Save Our Homes Act, has made alterations to the state’s property tax laws, such as authorizing a statewide floating homestead exemption for local governments and revising the tax estimate, three-year lock, sales ratio study, and settlement conference statutes, among other adjustments.

Currently, the bill relies on the passage of House Resolution 1022, which will provide a constitutional amendment for the floating homestead exemption and will be among the questions asked of voters on the ballot come Election Day.

The resources the two state organizations have compiled, which includes a detailed summary of the bill, a PowerPoint presentation, and a document of frequently asked questions regarding the bill, aim to better highlight the implications of HB 581 for confused or unaware residents.

Additionally, the ACCG and GMA plan to host a webinar Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. for further discussion of the bill with city and county officials.

You can access the ACCG and GMA information here.

Both organizations have insisted that they are not taking a political stance in sharing this information, but merely aim to provide a clearer picture on the situation for their constituents to make their own decisions regarding the matter.