Measure would provide Catoosa County homestead exemption, require balanced school budget

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Ringgold, Georgia. (Photo Todd DeFeo/The DeFeo Groupe)

A Northwest Georgia lawmaker introduced legislation to provide a homestead exemption from Catoosa County ad valorem taxes for senior citizens and require the Catoosa County Board of Education to adopt a balanced budget.

“Last year, our county school system increased property taxes 38% with the previous year also being a double-digit increase,” state Rep. Mitchell Horner, R-Ringgold, said in a statement. “I am proud to report that my office along with the General Assembly have listened to the concerns shared across the state.

“One way we are working to deliver property tax relief is by introducing HB 30 to help our seniors,” Horner added. “This local piece of legislation would create a homestead exemption at age 67 that would protect every senior from the risk of losing their home. This will help our seniors who are most in need of relief. No senior should have to choose between buying groceries or paying their property taxes.”

House Bill 30 would provide a homestead exemption from Catoosa County School District ad valorem taxes to residents of Catoosa County who are 67 years or older. Catoosa County senior citizens would be granted an exemption from the school district’s ad valorem taxes for $100,000 of the resident’s assessed home value. Residents would be eligible for the homestead exemption after they file an application and are approved by the tax commissioner. The exemption would be automatically renewed from year to year.

Residents would be required to alert the tax commissioner if they become ineligible for the exemption for any reason. This bill would be on the ballot for Catoosa County voters in November 2025.

House Bill 31 would require the Catoosa County Board of Education to adopt a balanced budget. If the state fully funds the Quality Basic Education Formula, the board’s budget must be balanced without expending fiscal reserves.

The amended and adopted budget would also need to provide all expenditures required by law and all debt service requirements for the ensuing fiscal year. Lastly, the total appropriations could not exceed the estimated fund balance, reserves and revenues.

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