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Stonecrest council unanimously votes to begin HB 581 opt-out process; three public hearings scheduled
Summary
Stonecrest voted unanimously to declare intent to opt out of HB 581’s homestead assessment cap and begin a statutorily prescribed public-hearing process; staff outlined a deadline-driven schedule for notifications, hearings and a final resolution to the Secretary of State.
The Stonecrest City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 13 to declare its intent to opt out of HB 581, the Georgia law that ties assessed homestead increases to the consumer price index unless a local government formally opts out. Councilmember Grimes moved the intent-to-opt-out motion; the vote was recorded as Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5 voting yea and District 4 absent.
Deputy City Manager Michael McCoy and other staff outlined the statutory schedule required for an opt out, noting the timetable is strict. McCoy described the procedural steps the council must follow: publication of notifications for three public hearings (the city requested the first legal notice be published Jan. 15), conduct three hearings (the city scheduled hearings for Jan. 27, Feb. 10 and Feb. 24), adopt a final resolution and file the resolution with the Georgia Secretary of State and the tax commissioner by the statutory deadline (the packet notes a March 1 statutory deadline).
McCoy said, “Going through this process keeps the options on the table, until the deadline,” and cautioned that failing to begin the process would foreclose the city’s ability to opt out later. Mayor Jasmine Cobble and several council members framed the decision as preserving local control: the opt out would allow Stonecrest to decide locally whether to use assessed-value rules or limit increases based on a CPI cap.
Staff and council discussed fiscal tradeoffs. City staff noted that opting out preserves ability to capture market-driven value increases for municipal revenue, while remaining in the state’s formula can limit revenue growth to inflation figures set by the state. Councilmembers asked for public outreach and promised constituent hearings; Councilman Grimes said he moved the intent motion to open the hearings and hear resident input before taking a final position.
The council’s motion carried with four yea votes and one absence; staff immediately began the notification schedule and the city manager said staff would start formal public outreach and presentations at the three hearings.
