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Statham City council hears proposal for two-tier senior homestead exemptions
Summary
Statham City staff proposed two local homestead exemptions — $20,000 at age 62 and an automatic $30,000 total at age 67 — estimating an annual fiscal impact to the city of about $30,000–$35,000; a follow-up session is scheduled for Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Statham City staff presented a proposal on Nov. 20 to create two local homestead exemptions for homeowners aged 62 and older, saying the change would reduce taxable assessed value by $20,000 for residents who turn 62 and increase that exemption to $30,000 total at age 67.
Rachel, the city presenter, said the proposal would be a one-time application filed at Statham City Hall and outlined the calculation using Georgia’s assessment rules: “the assessed value in the state of Georgia is calculated at 40% of that value,” she said, and noted that the city’s exempted amounts would be applied after the existing $2,000 state homestead exemption. Using a $255,000 market-value example, staff calculated an assessed value of $102,000 and estimated the immediate annual savings for a qualifying senior at roughly $133 in the first-year example shown to the council.
The presenter also addressed fiscal impact questions from residents, saying the city has bolstered revenues through grants, growth in the digest and improved collections. Rachel said the city’s estimated annual cost for both exemptions combined is “under $35,000,” and that county digest information yields an estimated impact of about $30,000. She characterized the proposal as conservative and said adjustments (ages or amounts) could be made in future legislative cycles.
Residents raised concerns about recent sharp individual tax increases and how exemptions would be funded. One attendee said their property tax rose from about $446 in 2023 to $865 in 2024 and asked why; Rachel explained that multiple factors affect a tax bill, including assessed value changes and recent changes in the millage rate, and offered to review the parcel with staff after the meeting.
Council members confirmed that the exemptions as proposed include both the 62- and 67-year tiers and that roughly 170 seniors could be affected under current estimates. Staff said seniors would apply at Statham City Hall (not the county), and that outreach has included Facebook, the city website, posts at city hall and newspaper notice. If the exemptions pass, staff said they hope to hold a senior expo to help residents register.
No one spoke in opposition during the public hearing. The council moved into and then exited the public hearing by council motion and a show-of-hands vote. The city scheduled a follow-up session on Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. for additional seniors to attend. The meeting adjourned after the council voted to close the session.
Next steps: the proposal remains a matter for future formal action; interested seniors were invited to apply and to attend the Dec. 2 meeting for more information.
