Chatham County schedules three public hearings on state homestead-exemption bill; commissioners approve appointments and budget adjustments

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners set three public hearings on House Bill 581 — the state homestead-exemption "opt out" calendar — and approved a series of appointments and modest budget amendments during its meeting.

County staff told commissioners HB 581 creates a state homestead-exemption option that would become effective unless a county passes a local opt-out resolution after holding three public hearings. Staff said Chatham County’s existing local assessment freeze (often called a "Stevens Day" freeze in Georgia) generally provides greater benefit than the state option in most scenarios, but state law would allow homeowners to retain the more favorable option if both apply. The board adopted the calendar and scheduled hearings for Feb. 6 (6 p.m.), Feb. 7 (during the commission meeting) and Feb. 21 (resolution adoption), with the first hearing to take place at the commission chambers.

Why it matters: HB 581 would change how some homestead protections are applied at the state level; deciding whether to opt out requires public hearings and a resolution. County staff emphasized that the board’s vote to adopt the hearing calendar is a procedural step to meet the statute’s requirements and to provide public notice.

The board also approved several personnel appointments to local authorities and boards and voted to authorize modest budget amendments. The actions included reappointments and appointments to transit, recreation and facilities authorities and transfers to increase operating budgets, including: - Reappointment of Bobby Lockett to the Chatham Area Transit Authority and reappointments/appointments to other local boards (motions were made and votes cast; vote tallies were not specified on the record). - Budget amendments including: $140,000 from general fund balance to increase the county attorney’s operational budget; $50,000 from confiscated revenue fund balance to increase the counter-narcotics team budget; $3,260 and $2,500 increases in the multi-grant fund for an ACCG internship grant and a grant for homeless services, respectively.

County staff said they will publish hearing notices and work with the county’s public information office to publicize the schedule.

Votes at a glance (items noted on the record) - Adopt calendar to comply with House Bill 581 (homestead exemption, opt-out): motion approved; first public hearing scheduled for Feb. 6 at 6 p.m.; additional hearings Feb. 7 and Feb. 21. - Budget amendments/transfers: motions approved (see amounts above). - Multiple board and authority appointments and reappointments (Chatham Area Transit Authority; Chatham County Recreation Authority; Chatham County Building and Facilities Authority; others): motions approved.

The meeting record shows commissioners asked staff to explain how the state option would interact with Chatham County’s existing assessment freeze and requested clear public messaging ahead of the hearings. Staff responded that residents who already benefit from the county’s freeze would be allowed to keep that protection where it is more favorable.

The board moved on after the votes to other agenda items, and staff said written materials and the adopted hearing calendar will be published to the county website and distributed to the press.