Issue Sheet RES2025-006 - HB581 Resolution and Public Hearing 3
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City of Smyrna Issue Sheet File Number: RES2025-006 A Max Bacon City Hall 2800 King Street Smyrna, GA 30080 3 3 4 6 9 Agenda Date: 2/17/2025 In Control: City Council File Type: Resolution Agenda Section: Formal Business Department: Administration and Finance Agenda Title: PUBLIC HEARING and VOTE: Authorization of Resolution RES2025-006 regarding the City of Smyrna’s intention to opt out of the statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemption. This is Public Hearing 3 of 3. Citywide ISSUE AND BACKGROUND: 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 (For more information on the statewide floating homestead exemption, please refer to GMA or ACCG HB 581 Resources). 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 (see model resolution provided) 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.