Gwinnett commissioners unanimously opt out of new statewide homestead exemption

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 18 approved a resolution to opt out of the statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemption enacted by House Bill 581, preserving the county's existing value offset exemption.

County Attorney Mike Ludwisack told the board the county began the legal process last month, published a notice of intent and held three public hearings, including one earlier the same day. He said Gwinnett's value offset exemption (VOE), in place since February 2001, freezes the assessed value of a home for the county portion of the tax bill at the year the homestead exemption was first granted. Under the statute adopted in HB 581, Ludwisack said, the statewide exemption would allow assessed values to increase annually with inflation.

The VOE, Ludwisack said, is more generous to local taxpayers and avoiding the statewide exemption will prevent the county from incurring administrative costs to track an adjustment that would provide no benefit to Gwinnett homeowners. He said, if adopted, the resolution and supporting documents will be filed with the Georgia secretary of state by March 1.

Chairwoman Nicole Lev Hendrickson, who called the question before the vote, acknowledged voters who supported the referendum related to HB 581 and said the county's long history with the VOE offers a continued advantage for residents. Hendrickson noted that two-thirds of a property tax bill typically goes to the school system and that city taxes affect residents who live inside municipal boundaries.

A motion to approve the resolution passed by unanimous voice vote. The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the meeting transcript provided.

Next steps listed by staff include filing the approved resolution with the secretary of state by March 1 to complete the opt-out process.