Screven County schedules public hearings to consider opting out of HB581 homestead exemption

Sylvania, Ga. — Screven County commissioners voted Jan. 14 to schedule public hearings and two special called meetings to decide whether the county will opt out of HB581, the state law creating a statewide homestead tax exemption.

The County Attorney, Aaron Meyer, outlined the pros and cons of HB581 and noted the county’s March 1, 2025 deadline to act. Commissioner Ben Thompson moved to continue the discussion and set three public hearings, and to call special meetings at 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 2 and Feb. 18, 2025; Commissioner J.C. Warren seconded. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

The hearings are intended to gather public input before the board makes a formal decision to opt in or opt out. The transcript records no debate on precise estimated fiscal impacts during the meeting; commissioners did not vote on an opt-out itself, only on scheduling further consideration and hearings.

Next steps: the board will hold the scheduled hearings and reconvene to consider a formal opt-out decision before the March 1 statutory deadline.