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County discusses HB 581/FLOST mechanics and potential local opt-in during Oct. 28 work session
Summary
At the Oct. 28 work session County Manager Thomas Weaver and attendee Alan Horniday described HB 581/FLOST as creating three optional buckets (ESPLOST, TSPLOST, FLOST) with a 2024 taxable-value freeze; commissioners discussed whether the county should opt in and noted a referendum is required for adoption.
During the Oct. 28 work session, County Manager Thomas Weaver updated commissioners on several operational items then summarized HB 581/FLOST discussion, with input from attendee Alan Horniday. The group said HB 581 would, if enacted as described in the meeting, create three possible sales-tax allocations — education (ESPLOST), transportation (TSPLOST), and a ‘freeze’ option (FLOST) — and that counties would have to opt in and hold a referendum to enact the tax.
An attendee described the proposal as “freezing” taxable value at 2024 levels for the new tax program’s calculations; Weaver and commissioners said the mechanism could benefit homesteaded properties but requires an opt-in decision and voter approval. The County Manager labeled the proposal a potential opportunity for the county and suggested staff track legislative progress and consequences for county revenue and capital planning.
