Gordon County officials discuss House Bill 581 and potential local sales-tax referendum

Gordon County Administrator Jim told commissioners the county does not plan to "opt out" under House Bill 581 and said voters could be asked in a referendum whether to offset some property taxes with a floating local option sales tax.

Jim said the county is distinct from local school districts and that the county’s leadership is not preparing an opt-out recommendation: "We are not the school district. What they do does not control what we do. I don't think I've got to go out on a limb here. I'm not planning on recommending an opt out, and I don't think the commissioners are planning on doing an opt out." He said officials are discussing a referendum in which "voters would be able to decide if they would like to offset some of their property taxes with sales tax."

The administrator described the change as significant for the county's tax structure and said county leaders are meeting with municipal mayors to coordinate their approach: "This is a revolutionary chance that we have to reset a good bit of the way that we're taxed in Gordon County." He also cautioned that parts of the law limit future growth tied to the consumer price index, a constraint he said the county will have to accommodate.

County staff said they will continue working with local leaders and provide updates. Jim said the county was meeting with mayors again on Friday to discuss implications and next steps but did not announce any formal timeline for placing a referendum before voters.

No formal vote or directive to place a referendum on the ballot was taken at the meeting.