Tift County homeowners would get a county property tax break paid for by a new sales tax, if voters approve

Each resident of Tift County would get an exemption from county property taxes on their home. The amount exempted is set each year by the net proceeds of the new sales tax collected in Tift County. Home value above that amount is still taxed. The exemption covers only county taxes, only property inside the special district, and comes on top of any other homestead exemption. Most people must apply. People who got another county homestead exemption last year and still qualify do not have to apply. Once granted, the exemption renews each year while the owner lives there and stays eligible. It would apply to tax years starting January 1 after voters approve it and ending December 31, 2039.

The bill ties the exemption to a new 1 percent Local Homestead Option Sales Tax in Tift County. The tax would apply within the special district that covers all of Tift County. The bill says it uses the terms of the state's existing law on this kind of sales tax. The sales tax would be collected from January 1, 2028, through December 31, 2037.

Tift County voters would decide whether to approve the exemption and the new sales tax. The county election superintendent would run the vote, and the county would pay for it. The bill cannot become law without a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House. The exemption takes effect only if more than half of voters say yes. If voters say no, or the election is not held as required, the bill would repeal itself 365 days after the election date. The vote would be held the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026. If approved, Section 1 would take effect January 1, 2027.