Editorial: Don’t forget ballot amendments

Published 9:30 am Friday, October 18, 2024

In addition to the slate of candidates on this year’s ballot, there are three additional questions for voters in Georgia to consider. Please pay close attention and review the two constitutional amendments and the referendum ahead of time to plan and prepare before casting your ballot.

Amendment 1: Authorizing a statewide exemption to the local homestead tax. “Shall the constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for a statewide homestead exemption that serves to limit increases in the assessed value of homesteads, but which any county, consolidated government, municipality or local school system may opt out of upon the completion of certain procedures?”

If approved, this amendment would implement a statewide homestead exemption for ad valorem taxation beginning Jan. 1, 2025. This measure would amend Article VII of the Georgia constitution and make a homestead exemption the norm statewide for ad valorem taxation. This could slow or cap property tax hikes when home values rise. That way, home property assessments could be capped at the inflation rate for the previous year. Most property taxes go toward public schools and are based on the assessed value of a home and the property tax rate. Local governments could determine whether to apply the exemption or opt out.

Amendment 2: Creation of a Georgia Tax Court. “Shall the constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide for the Georgia Tax Court to be vested with the judicial power of the state and to have venue, judges and jurisdiction concurrent with superior courts?”

This amendment will decide whether the state constitution should be changed to allow the General Assembly to create a state tax court. This court would replace the existing tribunal court. According to attorney David Hudson, this court should have a governor-appointed judge approved by the General Assembly. Each judge on the court would serve four years, with the approval of the state’s Senate and House Judiciary Committees.

The amendment would ensure that the Georgia Court of Appeals would hear an appeal to a tax case decision.

Lastly, statewide Referendum A: Tax exemption for tangible personal property. This would increase a property tax exemption for tangible personal property worth $7,500 or less to properties worth $20,000 or less.

“Do you approve the act that increases an exemption from property tax for all tangible personal property from $7,500 to $20,000?”

This would be the first expansion of this personal property tax exemption since 2002 when voters approved it being increased from $500 to the current $7,500.

Please read these ballot questions closely before deciding. Although they haven’t gotten the attention or grabbed the headlines that the high-stakes races on this year’s ballot have gotten, these constitutional questions should not be overlooked.