Augusta commissioners vote to opt out of state floating homestead exemption, direct staff to draft local alternative

The Augusta City Commission voted 8–2 Tuesday to opt out of House Bill 581, the state law creating a floating homestead exemption, and instructed staff to draft a local alternative for consideration by the General Assembly and voters.

Administrator Mona Allen told the commission the governing body must decide whether to opt in or opt out by March 1 and summarized alternatives developed by Chief Appraiser Scott Rountree and staff. “House Bill 581 would apply to all homestead properties, the amount of exemption floats each year to match the consumer price index,” Allen said, explaining that the exemption limit would match the CPI and that a local floating option sales tax (FLOS) to offset revenue effects would require voter approval.

The request to opt out and pursue a locally controlled version was made as a motion by Commissioner Don Clark and seconded by Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice. The motion carried 8–2, with Commissioners Jordan Johnson and Michael Lewis recorded as voting no. The commission subsequently authorized the mayor to execute a resolution to effectuate the…