Commission sends one-percent FLOST to Nov. 4 ballot to fund property tax relief

The Cusseta–Chattahoochee County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Sept. 2 to send a one-percent Flexible Local Option Sales Tax, or FLOST, to the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot as a measure to reduce county property taxes.

Chairman Charles Coffey read the resolution and described the tax as intended to provide property tax relief for county residents. The resolution specifies that, if approved by voters, the one-percent sales and use tax would be imposed for a five-year period and that proceeds would be allocated for property tax reduction under procedures laid out in state law (Article 2B, Chapter 8, Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated). The ballot question language requested by the commission asks voters to approve a special one-percent sales and use tax for a period “not to exceed 20 calendar quarters” for property tax relief.

County Clerk Lisa Bickel confirmed the county will request the elections superintendent to call the special election on Nov. 4, 2025, and to publish required legal notices. The resolution also directs the elections superintendent to canvass and certify results to the secretary of state and state revenue commissioners if the election proceeds.

The commission did not take steps at the Sept. 2 meeting to adopt a final ordinance imposing the tax; the action before the board was the approval of the resolution and the administrative request to place the question on the ballot. The resolution includes standard procedural language about ballot phrasing and publication of the election notice.

Next steps: the county will work with the elections superintendent on scheduling and legal notices. If voters approve the measure, implementation details and allocations would follow through county procedures and any applicable state-level certification.