Atlanta announces decision to opt out of state homestead exemption; residents raise notice and equity concerns

The City of Atlanta announced it will opt out of the statewide homestead-exemption established by House Bill 581, City finance officials told a public hearing Tuesday evening.

Chief Financial Officer Mohammed Balas of the City of Atlanta Department of Finance said the city’s existing floating homestead exemption, adopted in 2019 through House Bill 820, caps annual taxable-value growth for qualified owner-occupied homes at 2.6 percent and that city leaders believe that structure better suits Atlanta than the state’s CPI‑linked approach. “The City of Atlanta is announcing its decision to opt out of the statewide homestead exemption,” Balas said during the presentation.

Balas said the city must notify the state of its intent to opt out by March 1 and reminded residents that homestead exemptions are administered at the county level and require an application. “You have till April 1,” Balas said when asked about the application deadline. He also explained the city’s millage rate has been steady since 2019 except for a 2023 increase tied to a court-ordered restructuring of solid-waste charging that…