North Gwinnett News

The Gwinnett County Board of Education is set to conduct three public hearings regarding House Bill 581. These hearings are part of the process for potentially opting out of the bill. The first hearing will occur on January 16 at 6 p.m., with subsequent sessions scheduled for February 20 at 11:00 a.m. and 6 p.m. All hearings will be held in the Board Room at the Instructional Support Center, located at 437 Old Peachtree Road NW in Suwanee.

House Bill 581, which became effective on January 1, introduces a statewide homestead exemption that limits annual increases in property values for tax purposes. This legislation affects property taxes for cities, counties, and school districts across Georgia. However, it provides these entities with a one-time option to opt-out of this cap.

The bill aims to offer property tax relief to homeowners but presents funding challenges for school districts. In Gwinnett County, a homeowner with an appraised value of $400,000 would save approximately $10 per month in property taxes based on the current Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 2.0% - 2.4%. However, this could result in a revenue loss of about $35 million for Gwinnett County Public Schools in Fiscal Year 2025-26 and more than $100 million over the next three years.

Residents are encouraged to attend any of the public hearings and address their concerns directly to the Gwinnett County Board of Education. A sign-up sheet will be available at each hearing for those wishing to speak; there is no requirement to register before the meeting date. Further details about HB-581 can be found on the district's website at www.gcpsk12.org.