Commission discusses Senate Bill 141 and potential local adoption to extend historic rehabilitation tax freeze

Commissioners and staff discussed Senate Bill 141, legislation that allows local jurisdictions to extend property-tax assessment freezes for certified historic-rehabilitation projects beyond current terms. Eric Montgomery of Historic Augusta explained the existing local program freezes assessment increases for a period (historically eight to ten years) for certified rehabilitation and that SB 141 authorizes local governments to adopt a longer freeze—up to 20 years in some cases—for qualifying income-producing projects; local option details and whether owner-occupied residences qualify vary by provision.

Commissioners discussed whether the commission should prepare a recommendation or letter for the county commission to consider adopting the extended local option. The acting city attorney advised a commission member to draft proposed language for review and adoption at a future meeting; staff offered to gather data from the tax assessor on the economic impact and inventory of qualifying properties to support a formal recommendation.

The commission did not adopt a formal position at this meeting but asked staff to assemble information and for a commissioner to prepare draft language for the body to consider.