Coweta County superintendent lays out stakes, timeline for HB 581 opt‑in/opt‑out ahead of March 1 deadline

At the Coweta County Board of Education’s Dec. 10 meeting in Newnan, Superintendent Dr. Evan Horton gave a detailed briefing on House Bill 581 and the local procedures and fiscal consequences tied to deciding whether to "opt in" to the statewide homestead exemption or "opt out" and retain local control.

Horton told the board the law prevents any board action before Jan. 1, 2025 and requires that a decision to opt out must meet a March 1 filing deadline. "You must pass a resolution, and you must complete the required public hearings by this date," Horton said, noting that the process includes at least three public hearings (one between 6 and 7 p.m.), publication of a 30‑square‑inch notice in the Newnan Times‑Herald and simultaneous press releases on the district website. "There is no vote tonight," he said, and "the earliest you could take action on this would be at your regular February board meeting."

Why it matters: Horton framed the choice as a trade‑off between local control and a statewide funding formula. He said opting out preserves the district’s flexibility over millage rates and the ability to respond to local crises; opting in would move the district…