Legislature considers hurdles to discourage local opt-outs from new homestead tax exemption

Legislature considers hurdles to discourage local opt-outs from new homestead tax exemption

Georgia lawmakers could require local governments that have already opted out of a new statewide homestead property-tax exemption to renew their decision annually — a move that reflects the legislature’s recognition of widespread opt-outs across the state, particularly in metro Atlanta, and its bid for broader adoption of the policy. Nearly two-thirds of 4.8 million Georgia voters approved a (confusingly worded) constitutional amendment in Novem…