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Rockdale County holds public hearing on whether school board should opt out of House Bill 581
Summary
The Rockdale County Board of Education held the first of three public hearings on whether to adopt a resolution to opt out of Georgia House Bill 581, with district staff warning of a projected $61.7 million revenue loss and residents sharply divided between tax relief and preserving school funding.
The Rockdale County Board of Education on Feb. (date not specified) held the first of three public hearings required before the board can decide whether to adopt a resolution to opt out of House Bill 581, the state law that would cap increases in assessed values for homestead-exempt property to the rate of inflation.
In an overview to the board and attendees, Chief Financial Officer Joyce Smith said House Bill 581 is intended to provide tax relief to homeowners but projected the district would lose an estimated $61,700,000 in revenue over the next five years if the board opts out (meaning the district would choose not to adopt the cap). Smith also presented numerical examples: a homeowner with a 2024 fair-market value of $150,000 would see a $6,000 exemption and save about $120 per year under the bill’s parameters; a $420,000 home would see a $16,800 exemption and save about $336 annually. Smith said the new exemption would be “on top of the current $15,000 homestead exemption,” and that the $50,000 senior tax exemption would remain.
