Muscogee County School Board Rejects Statewide Tax Rule, Invites Community to Share Thoughts

Staff Report

The Muscogee County Board of Education intends to opt out of the statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemption for the Muscogee County School District.

Therefore, the board is asking all concerned citizens to attend the public hearings on this matter to be held at 5 p.m. Jan. 13, 2025 at Public Education Center, 2960 Macon Road, Columbus, Ga. 31906. 

There will be three additional meetings at Public Education Center at the following times:

6 p.m. Jan. 21, 2025

5 p.m. on Feb. 10, 2025

6 p.m. February 18, 2025

According to a statement from the Board:

"Among the reasons that the Board intends to opt out of the statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemption is that the Muscogee County School District is already impacted by a county-wide freeze on the assessed fair market values of homestead property and affirms that with the opt-out all existing local homestead exemptions, including the local Frozen Assessment Homestead, will remain unchanged.

"The intent to opt out follows a thorough review of the potential long-term impact on local taxpayers, school district revenues, and retention of local control and provides flexibility for the future that is not afforded by the state exemption. Details on current exemptions can be found at https://www.columbusga.gov/taxassessors/exemptions.htm."