Bartow bill proposed home tax breaks tied to local sales tax

Bartow County would exempt part of eligible homeowners’ property value from county property taxes. It would cover eligible residents’ homestead property within Bartow County. Any value above the exempt amount would remain taxable. The exemption amount would be set each year based on net proceeds from the local sales tax. A person must apply unless they received another Bartow County homestead exemption for the same home in the prior tax year and remain eligible. After the first grant, it would renew yearly while the person lives in the home and remains eligible; the person must tell the county if they become ineligible. It would add to other homestead exemptions and affect only Bartow County taxes. If the bill received the required legislative vote and voter approval, the exemption would apply to tax years beginning January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2039.

Bartow County would impose a 1 percent local sales tax in the special district. The special district covers Bartow County. The bill requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers and approval by more than half the votes cast in the county referendum. If approved, the tax would run from January 1, 2028, through December 31, 2037.