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Athens-Clarke County school board holds second HB 581 hearing; decision scheduled for Feb. 13
Summary
At a called public hearing, district finance staff laid out how House Bill 581’s statewide floating homestead exemption could affect school revenues and budget planning; public comment was sharply divided and the board will vote at its Feb. 13 meeting.
The Athens‑Clarke County Board of Education on Thursday held the second of three required public hearings on House Bill 581, the state law that establishes a statewide floating homestead exemption that caps annual increases in property tax assessments at the previous year’s inflation rate.
Chris Greiner, chief financial officer for the Athens‑Clarke County School District, told the board that HB 581 would limit an individual home’s assessed-value increase to the prior year’s inflation rate and that the state revenue commissioner will set the applicable inflation rate. “If a home increases in value 5%, it gets assessed at 5% higher, by the tax assessor, but the previous year’s inflation rate is 2%, then that home would only be valued at 2% more,” Greiner said.
The hearing drew sustained public comment both for and against the board choosing to “opt out” of HB 581 for the school district. Proponents of opting out said the district could lose revenue needed to maintain staff and services. Opponents said voters approved HB 581 in November and the board should honor the electorate’s preference.
Greiner reviewed the district’s fiscal profile and the…
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