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Royston City Council holds hearing on opting out of new homestead exemption
Summary
Royston City held a Jan. 28 public hearing on whether to opt out of a statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemption approved by a November constitutional amendment; the council must decide and notify the state by March 1, 2025.
Royston City Council held a public hearing on Jan. 28, 2025, to consider opting out of the statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemption approved by a constitutional amendment last November. The hearing was called to order by City Manager Lanier Dunn at 8:30 a.m. and closed at 8:35 a.m.
The proposal on the table would allow the City of Royston to decline the newly created statewide homestead exemption and retain its existing local ad valorem homestead tax policies. City officials noted that local governments have the option to "opt out" of the statewide provision; if the council chooses to opt out, that decision must be transmitted to the State by March 1, 2025.
City Clerk Tonya McGlockling is recorded as present for the hearing; the minutes include signature lines for Mayor Keith Turman and the city clerk certifying the record. The minutes do not record a vote or a formal motion during the Jan. 28 hearing; they show the hearing opened at 8:30 a.m. and closed at 8:35 a.m.
Because the transcript of the hearing comprises minutes rather than a verbatim exchange, no direct quotations are recorded. The next procedural step is for the council to consider the opt-out and, if it decides to opt out, transmit that decision to the State by the March 1, 2025 deadline. If the council takes no action before that date, state procedures for implementation of the constitutional change would apply.
