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Bryan County Schools to hear residents’ concerns about house bill 581
Gov. Brian Kemp signed the homestead exemption bill last year. Now, it is up to schools and local municipalities to decide whether they want to opt in or out of the bill. The city of Pembroke and the city of Richmond Hill opted in but some residents in Bryan County fear the school district’s decision to opt out of House Bill 581 will cost them more money in the long run.
The bill, which was passed in March 2024, states the, “Statewide exemption can be used in addition to other homestead exemptions that are not base year value exemptions. If another base year exemption exists locally, the exemption of greater benefit to the homeowner shall be provided.”
The Bryan County School District is choosing to opt out of the new homestead exemption opportunity outlined in HB 581. According to the district’s December newsletter, here are the four reasons the district has opted out:
- If this plan had been in place previously, the Bryan County Schools estimates that its district would have lost over $4 million dollars over the last five years. That revenue loss would have equated to over 40 teachers the district would not have earned under current funding mechanisms.
- Cities and counties are eligible to add an additional penny of sales tax if they choose not to opt out of HB581 to offset revenue losses from the change in the homestead exemptions, but school districts are not allowed the same option.
- Bryan County student enrollment continues to grow. State funding for newly enrolled students is delayed by one year, the system explained in its newsletter, pointing out that growth is funded locally in a student’s first year.
- The school system said that its options for managing the high costs of growth would become more limited if it opted into the HB 581 plan and leave it having to choose between increasing the millage rate, which would impact all property owners not just those with a homestead exemption, or making cuts in staffing and non-mandated programs such as STEM and Fine Arts.
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Bryan County Schools is scheduled to host two public hearings on this issue, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. and Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. Both meetings will be held at the Board of Education office in Black Creek. The first meeting was held Jan. 10.
Regardless of the impact the decision to opt in or opt out could have on school revenues, staffing and programming, some residents are more focused on the potential to save money on their personal homestead exemptions.
“My property taxes increased 14% from 2023 to 2024,” said Bryan County resident Sheila Galbreath, who does not have children in the school system but worries about the financial burden that could impact residents in the community. “There is no way an individual dependent on social security could have paid the increase. The Bryan County School ESPLOST will come up for a vote this year and I will vigorously oppose the renewal. The problem is that the school board sees our homes as an investment but to many lifelong residents it is home.”
The newsletter goes on to say that by opting out, BCS can retain control over, “Local revenue decisions, made locally in the best interests of Bryan County students.”
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
Bryan County Schools will be hosting a community forum to hear residents’ concerns about House Bill 581. This bill, which was recently passed by the Georgia State Legislature, has raised many questions and uncertainties among residents in the Bryan County area.
The forum will provide an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns, ask questions, and engage in a dialogue with school officials about the potential impact of House Bill 581 on the local community. The school district is committed to transparency and open communication with residents, and this forum is an important step in ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the decision-making process.
The forum will take place on [date] at [location]. Residents are encouraged to come and participate in the discussion. Your input is valuable and will help inform the school district’s response to House Bill 581. Let’s work together to ensure the best possible outcome for our community.
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Bryan County Schools, House Bill 581, community concerns, education legislation, public forum, school district meeting, parent involvement, legislative impact, student advocacy, community engagement
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