The City of Gainesville intends to opt out of House Bill (HB) 581, the statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemption, as approved by voters during the Nov. 5 general election. The city’s announcement comes on the heels of an announcement that the city school board plans to do the same. GCSS to opt out of HB 581; public hearings planned And the Hall County Board of Education is expected to do so, as well, according to spokesman Stan Lewis.
“We have all worked together to ensure we are providing our citizens with the most clear and straightforward course of action,” said Gainesville City Manager Bryan Lackey (pictured). “This includes streamlining the assessment process and relieving administrative burdens that would come with managing two separate homestead exemptions for each qualifying parcel, while also providing a consistent 3% year-to-year cap.”
Hall County’s local homestead exemption, which took effect Jan. 1, is capped at a 3% property tax assessment with the base year reflecting the property’s 2023 assessment. This same homestead exemption would also apply to ad valorem taxes affecting the City and Hall County Government, plus the Hall County and Gainesville City boards of education.
As a part of the opt-out process, the city will hold several public hearings prior to the proposed adoption of the resolution to opt out of HB 581. The Gainesville City Council must file its resolution, pending approval, with the Georgia Secretary of State by March 1:
- 1st public hearing: 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the City of Gainesville Council Boardroom, located at 300 Henry Ward Way
- 2nd public hearing: 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at the City of Gainesville Council Boardroom, located at 300 Henry Ward Way
- 3rd public hearing: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Gainesville Justice Center, located at 701 Queen City Parkway
Questions leading up to the scheduled public hearings may be directed to Public Relations Director Christina Santee-Moss via the following online contact form.