Mayor and Council Meeting - A. MAX BACON CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS — Minutes
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February 17, 2025 7:00 PM City of Smyrna Mayor and Council Meeting 2800 King Street SE Council Chambers Page 3 of 6 House Bill 581 was passed by the Georgia General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session and an enabling constitutional amendment (HR 1022) was subsequently approved through a statewide ballot question during the November 2024 election. Within HB 581, O.C.G.A. § 48-5-44.2 provides for a statewide floating homestead exemption which applies to counties, consolidated governments, municipalities, and local school districts While the homestead exemption automatically applies to all local governments and school districts, these jurisdictions may stop the homestead exemption from becoming effective within their jurisdiction by following certain procedures by March 1, 2025. O.C.G.A. § 48-5-44.2(i) provides the necessary procedures for local governments to opt out of the HB 581 homestead exemption. To opt out, the local government or school district must adopt a resolution opting out of the exemption after completing the following steps, which must be completed between January 1, 2025, and March 1, 2025: - The local government must advertise the intent to opt out and conduct at least three public hearings on the issue, with at least one of the public meetings occurring between 6:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. on a business weekday. - The local government must place an advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation serving the residents of the political subdivision and post the advertisement on its website of the local government. - The advertisement must appear at least one week prior to each hearing, be prominently displayed, be not less than 30 square inches, and not be placed in that section of the newspaper where legal notices appear. - The advertisement must also be posted on the local government’s website at least one week prior to each hearing. In addition to the advertisement, the local government may include in the notice reasons or explanations for its intention to opt out of the homestead exemption. Simultaneously with the notice the local government must provide a press release to the local media. The City of Smyrna has completed all requirements to opt out and this Public Hearing, Resolution and vote are the final procedures as required in O.C.G.A. § 48-5-44.2(i). Staff recommends authorization of this resolution. A public hearing was called, and no one came forward in favor of or in opposition to this item. Councilmember Travis Lindley made a motion to approve item RES2025-006; seconded by Councilmember Charles Welch. The motion to approve carried with the following vote: Aye: 6 – Councilmember Pickens, Councilmember Hines (virtual), Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Mayor Pro Tem / Councilmember Gould, Councilmember Oglesby Nay: 0 – None Absent: 1 – Councilmember WIlkinson B. ATH2025-033 Authorization to amend the 2022 SPLOST Fund project length budget to increase the Camp Highland Bridge project in the amount of $94,200.00 to $1,594,200.00 to meet the cost share agreement based on the