Officials from Lamar County and the City of Barnesville decided to call for a referendum on measures made available through HB 581, which was sponsored by Rep. Beth Camp who represents a portion of Lamar County.
According to a fact sheet, the bill “provides relief and clarity to taxpayers by offering the following: a statewide floating homestead exemption, an optional sales tax to further offset property taxes and property tax process reforms”.
The new legislation has not provided much clarity to local governments. County officials and those in their municipalities are at odds over the idea all over Georgia. That resulted in the state extending the deadline for decisions.
Many school boards, including Lamar County’s, are choosing to opt out. The local board has held public hearings on the issue and the final one is set for Feb. 26 at 6 p.m.
If all goes according to plan, the question will appear on ballots in participating jurisdictions in November.
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