Monroe County commissioners still undecided on H.B. 581 after final public hearing

With the March 1 deadline approaching, Monroe County Commissioners have not made a decision on the bill that introduces a statewide homestead exemption that caps annual property value tax increases, limiting growth based on the previous year’s inflation rate.

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — With the March 1 deadline approaching, Monroe County Commissioners have yet to make a decision on H.B. 581.

The bill introduces a statewide homestead exemption that caps annual property value tax increases, limiting growth based on the previous year’s inflation rate. The City of Forsyth voted in favor of the bill, while the Monroe County Board of Education decided to opt out. But at the third and final public hearing on the matter Wednesday, county commissioners were still listening for input from residents like Kristin Styers. Styers expressed concerns about how much her 75-year-old mother would have to pay in taxes once moving to the county.

“It does seem like compared to other surrounding counties we don’t have a school board exemption for our 65 and older type residents,” Styers said. “The taxes do seem to be higher for her compared to where she’s been currently.”

After the meeting, Styers said she supports the intent to opt out of the bill, saying the one-size-fits-all structure isn’t best for the county.

“I just want to make sure that whether it’s with this tax bill or just any tax bill, that we’re looking at all components, all residents, all types that make up our community and make sure that we are assessing them fairly where they can live comfortably in our county,” Styers said.

The tax increase cap was supported by 63% of Georgia voters in November’s election, including 60% in Monroe County. But some commissioners, like other residents, say they voted yes on the bill, not knowing what all it entailed. They say they will rely more heavily on what they heard in public hearings than what voters said at the ballot box.

 “It was presented in a way that made me think it was going to be good for the taxpayers, and ultimately it is,” Alan Gibbs, Chairman of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. “But the problem is, the money’s got to come from somewhere.”

Gibbs says he’s always in favor of tax relief but acknowledges that the bill could harm local government and school district funding, which rely heavily on property taxes.

“After digging down into this and seeing what the long-term effects are, we’re just not sure how that’s going to look,” Gibbs said.

By not taking action, the county would opt in, but Georgia legislators are expected to soon vote on H.B. 92, which would extend the opt out deadline to March 31, 2029. Gibbs says this would be a game changer, and the commission board will take their time their time to make a decision on 581.

“That gives us four years to see how this is going to work for the county,” Gibbs said. ‘So, that’s a big deal and that’s a big decision to make.”