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Stephens County commissioners opt in to House Bill 581 homestead valuation provision
Summary
After a statutorily required third public hearing, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners voted to opt in to House Bill 581 (OCGA 48-5-44.2), which freezes adjusted base-year valuations for qualifying homestead properties; the board approved the action by voice vote.
Stephens County commissioners voted to opt in to House Bill 581 — the statewide adjusted base-year ad valorem homestead exemption provision — following a third and final public hearing required by state law.
The public hearing was convened for members of the public to comment on whether the county should opt in or out of the bill’s provisions. An unidentified staff member summarized the effect of the law, saying the current homestead exemption would not change and that HB 581 “freezes the current valuation of your under your current homesteads” and limits the pace of valuation increases. The public hearing record included one speaker identified as “Mitch”; no written opposition was entered in the hearing before it was closed.
Board members then brought the item to the agenda for a formal decision under the statutory authority cited in the meeting packet. The board moved to opt in to House Bill 581 pursuant to OCGA 48-5-44.2 and authorized the chair to sign the resolution. The board approved the motion by voice vote; no roll-call tally with named votes was recorded on the transcript.
Nut graf: The board’s decision to opt in means the county will implement the statutory process tied to House Bill 581 and follow OCGA 48-5-44.2’s requirements. Commissioners held a required public hearing before voting, fulfilling the state process for local adoption or rejection.
Background and next steps: The statute cited in the motion is OCGA 48-5-44.2; the transcript also repeatedly referenced House Bill 581 by name. The county authorized the chair to sign a resolution implementing the board’s choice. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote or a specific numeric tally of ayes and nays, only the voice vote result and that no members spoke in opposition when asked.
