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Ware County tax officials outline millage decision timeline, disaster-credit options after Hurricane Helene
Summary
Tax Commissioner Roger Collins told the board a called meeting will be held Nov. 1 to set the millage after the Ware County Board of Education decides Oct. 31; Collins summarized House Bill 311’s one-time disaster-credit rules and Chief Appraiser Billy Carter described county damage assessments.
Tax Commissioner Roger Collins told the Ware County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 17 that the county must decide on a tax rollback and the millage rate following damage from Hurricane Helene and that the board will hold a called meeting Nov. 1 after the Ware County Board of Education sets its rate Oct. 31.
Collins summarized House Bill 311, saying the law authorizes tax credits only for properties in federally declared disaster areas, that credits apply to homes or other structures that have damage or are destroyed, that credits may be issued either as a flat dollar amount or as an adjustment to the millage rate, and that the credits are available as a one-time relief for damaged property. Collins said the board will need to decide whether to grant credits and how to structure them.
Chief Tax Appraiser Billy Carter said staff are working to assess damages from Hurricane Helene and will coordinate with EMA Director Jonathan Daniell to document and track damage across the county. Commissioner Leonard Burse asked about House Bill 581, described in the discussion as a statewide floating homestead exemption; Collins said counties can opt out but must file a resolution with the Secretary of State by March 1, 2025. Carter summarized pros and cons and noted Ware County’s current homestead exemptions.
The board did not take formal action on rates or credits at the Oct. 17 meeting; Collins announced a called meeting Nov. 1 for the board to consider millage and any tax rollback after the school board’s Oct. 31 decision.
