Columbus council votes 7–2 to opt out of Georgia's new floating homestead exemption

Columbus City Council voted 7'to'2 on Feb. 11 to opt out of the statewide "floating" homestead exemption, the council decided after a required third public hearing that included a presentation from the county tax assessor's office and public comment from neighborhood residents.

The measure, adopted by statewide constitutional amendment in November 2024 and implemented in state statute by House Bill 581, creates a second, "floating" homestead value that adjusts annually by an inflation index. Muscogee County tax staff told the council the floating exemption would run alongside the county's existing local frozen homestead, which many residents and local staff said provides a more predictable ceiling for assessed values.

"This is in regards to House Bill 581," Muscogee County chief appraiser Suzanne Weidenhouse told the council in a presentation that reviewed examples showing when the floating option could raise or lower a homeowner's assessed value relative to the local…