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Fulton County Schools votes to opt out of statewide homestead exemption created by HB 581
Summary
The board approved a resolution to opt out of House Bill 581’s statewide adjusted base-year homestead exemption, citing an existing local homestead exemption that provides equivalent relief and to avoid disruption to tax assessment processes.
The Fulton County Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a resolution to opt out of the statewide adjusted base-year homestead exemption created by House Bill 581, following staff advice that the district’s existing homestead exemption already provides equivalent taxpayer relief.
Marvin Dreef, presenting the motion, told the board the state law (House Bill 581) creates a statewide adjusted base-year homestead exemption effective Jan. 1, 2025, designed to cap assessment growth at the prior year’s rate of inflation. “Because there is equivalent property tax relief in place for Fulton County taxpayers and to minimize any disruption to the tax assessment and collection process, staff would like to recommend we opt out of the exemption,” he said.
Dreef reported that the district has maintained a local homestead exemption since 2019 that caps assessment growth at the lower of 3% or the prior year’s inflation rate. Staff confirmed required public-notice steps had been completed, including press releases and two advertised hearings in January; the board approved the opt-out resolution unanimously.
What happens next: Staff will distribute the board’s statement to the cities within the Fulton County Schools district and proceed with any implementation steps required for opt-out notification and coordination with local tax assessors.
Vote: motion to approve the opt-out resolution carried unanimously.
