The story
In December 2024 the Clarkesville City Council put House Bill 581, a state floating homestead exemption option, on its agenda to discuss and vote on. In January 2025 the council reviewed the bill and FLOST sales tax option further, and at a work session Mr. Dickerson proposed working with Habersham County and its municipalities to hold a joint public meeting on the issue; the mayor and council agreed to hold that meeting.
On January 22, 2025, the City Council approved Resolution 2025-1, showing intent to opt in to House Bill 581, on a motion by Council Member Brad Coppedge. The vote passed 3-0.
The city then held a public hearing on the House Bill 581 opt-out option on February 3, 2025. A week later, on February 10, council was told the city planned to opt in, but that if even one city in Habersham County opted out, the exemption would not benefit Clarkesville or its residents, and staff said they would recommend opting out under that scenario.
By a March 3, 2025 update to the council, the city confirmed it is opted in to House Bill 581, with staff saying the process should be similar to prior tax years and noting further changes to the bill are expected.