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Ware County holds public hearing on whether to opt out of HB 581 homestead exemption
Summary
The Ware County Board of Commissioners held a Feb. 6, 2025 public hearing to explain HB 581, a state measure creating a statewide adjusted base-year homestead exemption, and to receive public comment on whether Ware should opt out. Tax Commissioner Roger Collins said opting out would preserve existing local freezes and would not itself raise taxes; no decision was made.
WAYCROSS, Ga. — The Ware County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing Thursday evening on whether the county should opt out of House Bill 581, the state measure that would create a statewide adjusted base‑year ad valorem homestead exemption.
Tax Commissioner Roger Collins explained to the board and members of the public that HB 581 would provide a uniform, statewide homestead exemption for counties that do not already have local freezes. Collins told the hearing that Ware County is different from many neighbors because the county, the City of Waycross and the Board of Education each have freeze provisions already in place. Collins said the county’s freeze will continue to supersede the state freeze and that "opting out will not increase anyone's taxes." He also noted that opting out…
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