Oconee County Board of Education holds third hearing on HB 581 homestead exemption; no vote taken

The Oconee County Board of Education held the third and final required public hearing on HB 581 on Feb. 3, 2025, at which district staff outlined projected revenue impacts and eight residents spoke for and against the district opting out of the law. No formal action or vote was taken at the hearing; the board must complete any opt-out process by March 1, 2025.

Mister Adams, a school system staff member, told the board that HB 581 would set a floating homestead exemption that limits annual increases in assessed homestead values to a state-determined inflationary rate. "The law requires the intent to opt out be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation, and show evidence of public hearings," Adams said, describing the notice and hearing requirements the district has followed.

Adams said Oconee County Schools projected that local revenue under the bill would have decreased by $13.9 million over the past seven years. He also presented chart figures the district described as a three-year average of $2.7 million and an $8.1 million decrease in another span shown. Adams noted the district receives roughly 54% of its funding from the state and 46% from local sources and said that reductions in taxable values for homestead properties could force the district to raise its millage rate to maintain services.

The presentation listed specific local budget pressures: an estimated $600,000 increase in health care premiums for classified staff and an estimated $400,000 increase related to the Teachers Retirement System, which Adams characterized together as about $1 million in unfunded state-driven expenses. He also noted the district's current millage rate is 14.25 mills (down from 17.5 mills in 2014) and said the statutory maximum for school millage is 20 mills. Adams said the district has one opportunity to complete the opt-out process and that the deadline to file is March 1, 2025.

Public commenters expressed differing views on whether the board should opt out. Robert Wazoric (who said he goes by Ed), a longtime county resident, told the board that he believed the voters who approved the November 2024 ballot measure expected tax relief and that the board should not overturn that voter decision. "Now you have been presented with the opportunity to go against the will of almost 65% of the voters in this county," Wazoric said.

Ian Taylor, a resident who questioned the district's financial presentation, said he felt the material repeated statewide school association talking points and described the district analysis as "overly simplistic and very one-sided." Charles Hunt, another resident, urged the board to opt in to the state exemption, saying the inflationary cap could smooth abrupt valuation increases and help many households.

Other speakers focused on spending priorities and accountability. Roy Byrne criticized county projects such as multiuse trails and suggested that county spending priorities could free revenue for schools. Pam Hendricks and Victoria Cruz, both senior citizens, said they feared rising property taxes on fixed incomes and questioned district spending and building costs; Cruz said she worried that the district's quick move to opt out looked like preplanning. Stephen Alshire raised budget concerns about school resource officer staffing levels as an example of expenditure growth.

Board member Michael (first name given in the record only) said the district had used required statutory language in a legal advertisement explaining the hearing and that the language did not itself reflect a prior decision to opt out. "There was no intent to opt out," Michael said, adding the ad language met state requirements and that the board was actively discussing the issue.

No motion or formal vote was recorded at the hearing. District staff confirmed that the required advertisements and three public hearings were posted and that related information and a frequently asked questions document have been posted on the district website and Simbly. The board indicated it will consider next steps before the March 1, 2025, deadline.

The hearing concluded after public comments and no additional business was taken up that day.