The Jones County School System Board of Education would like to announce that it plans to opt out of the homestead exemption offered by House Bill 581 (HB 581).
HB 581, passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2024, introduces a floating statewide homestead exemption that limits increase in taxable home values to the prior year’s inflation rate. State legislation provides school districts only one opportunity to opt out. The Jones County Board of Education believes opting out would be the best option to protect the financial stability of its schools and protect public education in the community.
The law allows local governing authorities to opt out of the homestead exemption following three public hearings.All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this matter. Jones County School System held the first three public hearings at 6 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2025, Jan. 23, 2025, and Jan. 30, 2025. The final three hearings will be held on Feb. 21, 2025, at 9 a.m., and on Feb. 24, 2025, at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Jones County School System Professional Learning Building, 139 Gordon Street, Gray, GA.
Following the public hearings, the Jones County Board of Education will vote on the resolution to opt out of HB 581 at the Feb. 24, 2025, board meeting before the March 1, 2025, deadline.
In its current version, this decision to opt-out of HB581 will not affect any existing exemptions for Jones County residents.
– Contributed
