By Enola Patterson
Blue Ridge City Council members unanimously voted to opt out of House Bill 581, Georgia’s statewide Homestead Exemption, at their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 18.
Councilman Jack Taylor expressed concerns that the bill was permanent. He explained how the bill’s success is dependent upon a Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) that must be approved by voters every five years.
Taylor said that with the terms of the bill being forever, and a new tax attached, he did not “think that’s good business.”
“If we vote on this bill we have voted on it for life; We can’t get out of it,” Tayor said.
Mayor Pro Tem William Whaley said that he didn’t think the bill was in the right “appetite” for the community.
“We are acting in the best interest of our citizens” Whaley said in deciding to opt out.
Council member Angie Arp said that she would much rather have taxes determined on the local level, than state level. “Do I want the state to be in control of my taxes, or the local level?,” Arp questioned.
While discussing the Homestead Exemption, Mayor Rhonda Haight talked about the possibility of creating a new city tax exemption for citizens over a certain age bracket.
“Maybe that is something we look at for our citizens, especially who are over a certain age bracket,” Haight said.
Whaley, Taylor, Arp, Christy Kay, and Bill Bivins all voted to opt out of HB 581.