Butts County board to advance plan raising senior homestead exemption; resolution sent to lawmakers

The Butts County Board of Education on Jan. 14 moved to pursue an increase in the senior homestead exemption, notifying legal counsel and state legislators so county voters can decide the change at the ballot box. Superintendent (speaker S3) said the board settled on raising the exemption from $15,000 to $50,000 of assessed value for homeowners aged 62 and older.

"The board settled on increasing the senior homestead exemption from 15,000 to 50,000 of the assessed value for seniors 62 years of old of age and older," the superintendent said, explaining a resolution had been signed and sent to legal counsel and legislators so the matter could proceed to voters.

The board noted it would not unilaterally opt out of any statewide provision without following required steps. The superintendent said the board plans to use three upcoming meetings to hear from residents before any final action and that the county’s tax officials and the school board still have questions about how House Bill 581 would affect implementation. "We are gonna use our 3 meetings to listen to what the community," the superintendent said, adding that some technical questions remain and that state rules require advertising an intent to opt out when that process is under consideration.

Board members framed the move as both a policy decision and a public-process matter: the resolution starts a sequence of legal and legislative steps and gives voters the ultimate say. The superintendent said the resolution would be transmitted to legislators and that voters will have the opportunity to approve the increase in a county vote; the board did not adopt an opt-out at the meeting.

Next steps: the board will hold the planned community meetings to gather public input, legal counsel will continue coordinating with legislators, and the matter will return to the board if further formal actions are necessary.