DeKalb County Board of Education to opt out of Georgia’s new property tax bill

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – The DeKalb County Board of Education has announced that it intends to opt out of the statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemption for the DeKalb County School District (DCSD).

Georgia voters passed the statewide legislation known as House Bill 581 in Nov. 5, 2024 to provide property tax relief to homeowners. The bill provides relief to homeowners by offering a statewide “floating” homestead exemption that limits annual tax assessment increases to the rate of inflation that is based on the consumer price index. The bill also provides optional sales tax to offset property taxes.

The DeKalb County Board of Education is required to notify the public that it does not wish to participate in the new law, which took effect on Jan. 1. Any Georgia school board, local government or municipality that wants to opt out of the new law must notify the public, pass a resolution and hold three public hearings by March 1, 2025. Voters are encouraged to attend the meetings.

The DeKalb County Board of Education has set its public hearings for Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m.; and Thursday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. All public hearings will be held at the Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard in Stone Mountain.

Graphic by David Hartman/House Budget and Research Office