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Macon-Bibb commissioners vote to opt out of House Bill 581s floating homestead exemption
Summary
After three public hearings, the Macon-Bibb County Board of Commissioners voted 7-1 to opt out of House Bill 581s default "floating homestead exemption," citing concerns about bill language, long-term revenue effects and lack of a local sales-tax offset; the resolution will be sent to the Georgia Secretary of State by March 1.
Macon-Bibb County commissioners voted to opt out of House Bill 581s default floating homestead exemption following a presentation by county legal staff and a single public comment at a Feb. 26 hearing.
Michael McNeil, the countys chief assistant county attorney, told the commission the bills default "opt in" creates a floating homestead exemption that begins with a 2024 base year and then allows the states revenue commissioner to cap assessed-value increases based on statewide inflation. "First, it creates a floating homestead exemption. And then the second thing is it allows local governments to modify their sales tax collections to make up for revenues that are lost through this floating homestead exemption," McNeil said during the presentation.
McNeil said Macon-Bibb currently offers a $7,000 flat homestead exemption and that the Department of…
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