Columbia County moves to ask voters to allow rollback millage rate under House Bill 439

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners voted July 7 to ask the electorate to allow the county to pursue the rollback millage rate under state legislation known as House Bill 439.

Vice Chair Couch moved to approve Resolution 26-15, which staff described as directing the board of elections to put before voters the mechanism authorized by House Bill 439. During debate Commissioner Scott said the measure is intended to offset recent property-assessment increases and to ‘‘give the taxpayers back their money’’ by lowering the millage rate to the constitutional rollback level when possible.

Planning and finance discussion at the meeting noted the rollback rate is a calculated millage that, in theory, offsets increased assessed values so a typical homeowner’s tax bill remains roughly neutral after reassessment. Commissioners framed the resolution as one step in a broader multi-year effort to reduce or eliminate homestead property taxes, saying additional state-level constitutional action would be required to fully phase out the tax.

Supporters on the board credited prior voter-approved measures and earlier exemptions the board implemented. No formal public opposition to this specific resolution was recorded at the meeting. The board approved the motion by voice vote.

The resolution directs the county to work with the board of elections on the mechanics of the ballot question; staff and commissioners said further procedural steps and public notices will follow. Because the measure asks voters to authorize a specific tax mechanism, final implementation would depend on the outcome of any election and subsequent ministerial steps by the county and state officials.