Gilmer County commissioners tabled a move to opt out of HB 581.
Commissioners made the decision at their regular meeting Feb. 13, after hearing there is a move in the Georgia Legislature to extend the opt out deadline until March 31, 2029. HB 92 would extend the deadline.
The original deadline to opt out was March 1 of this year.
Commissioners did reserve the right to opt out of HB 581 if HB 92 is not signed by Gov. Brian Kemp by late February.
“My feeling on that is unless that bill is signed by the governor, I’d say no later than the 25th of this month, then we need to opt out,” said Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris. “Because, I personally don’t feel comfortable passing the March 1 deadline on the assumption that the bill to extend that might be passed.”
HB 581 is the bill which codifies a ballot measure which passed during the last election to offer a floating homestead exemption which is only allowed to increase by the Consumer Price Index. It also offers an option to offer a sales tax to the citizens of the county to offset lost revenue.
Gilmer County already has a floating homestead exemption in place which locks in the homeowner’s assessed value at the time the homestead is applied for with no increase.
Commissioners have voiced concerns with being locked into a bill which the state legislature can change at any time and which contradicts home rule, or control of the local board.
Budget
Commissioners passed the 2025 budget at the meeting.
In several budget meetings, the commissioners were able to whittle down $2.75 million in the maintenance and operating budget and $500,000 or more out of the capital budget.
In the end, after many cuts, commissioners used some accounting procedures to move expenses between budgets and balance both.
In the final budget, maintenance and operation is $49,328,023, capital is $9,666,995 and debt service is $3,955,429.
Largest expenditures in the budget are the sheriff’s office and detention center at $9,845,094, fire and EMS at $8,514,751 and public works at $8,172,795.
Other business
In other business, commissioners:
﹣ approved a $1.89 million bid for a ladder truck for the fire department, which will be delivered in July of this year.
﹣ heard about GDOT taking up construction of a new bridge at Old Bucktown and Tickanetley Road. Gilmer County’s part of the project will be $75,000 for right of way costs.
﹣ approved an increase in ambulance billing rates to bring the county in line with surrounding counties.
﹣ approved the advertising for bids for a new ambulance.