Hall County staff preview new state requirement showing public-safety share on tax statements

County staff informed the Hall County Board of Commissioners about a new state reporting requirement that will show, on each homeowner’s tax statement, the percentage of their property taxes spent on public safety.

Kayla, the county staff member who presented the levy sheet and calculations, told the board that the printed statement will identify public-safety spending categories — crime prevention, offender detention, firefighters, police, medical ambulance and related services — and explained the calculation method: total public-safety expenses minus public-safety-related revenues, divided by general fund total expenses. The purpose, she said, is to show taxpayers how much of their taxes fund public-safety functions.

Staff distributed the form provided by the state and a detailed page listing the entries used in the county’s calculation and invited commissioners to review and suggest changes before tax statements go out later this year. Kayla noted the form offers limited guidance on what is included in public safety and that staff aimed to include items they believed would qualify. The board did not take formal action on the calculation at the meeting but directed staff to be prepared to answer taxpayer questions once statements are mailed.