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IssueHabersham Countyunder consideration

Habersham tax board keeps approving conservation-use covenant releases through 2026

The releases end special reduced-tax-assessment agreements on individual parcels, affecting what those properties owe in taxes going forward.

By NEGA Brief NewsroomLast checked September 30, 2026
What happens next

No next step has been documented.

At a glance

What this means now

Where it stands

A July 28 agenda item listed another set of 2025 covenant releases for board consideration, but the minutes for that meeting do not record a vote on it.

The story

On Jan. 13, 2026, the Habersham County Board of Tax Assessors approved the releases for all Conservation Use Valuation Assessment covenants listed for Tax Year 2026. The board separately approved a request from Elaine Banks to end her Conservation Use Covenant without penalty for Tax Year 2026, covering parcels 021-033 and 021-034.

SourcesMeeting5292_01.13.26 BOA Minutes.pdf

The board approved another round of Tax Year 2026 covenant releases on Feb. 10.

SourcesMeeting5294_February 10.pdf

On March 12, the board approved releases for covenants that had expired or been breached, again for Tax Year 2026, and separately approved a request from Earl Helton to end his Conservation Use Covenant without penalty for parcel 026-082.

SourcesMeeting5296_03.12.26 Minutes.pdf

The board approved further sets of covenant releases for Tax Year 2026 on March 24, April 28 and July 14.

SourcesMeeting5297_03.24.26 BOA Minutes.pdfMeeting5299_April 28.pdfMeeting5304_July 14.pdf

A July 28 agenda item listed another set of 2025 covenant releases for board consideration, but the minutes for that meeting do not record a vote on it.

SourcesMeeting5305_07.28.26 BOA Minutes.pdf

What happened

How this issue got here

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Appeared on agenda
proposed

Conservation Use 2025 releases

Conservation Use: a. 2025 Releases:

Approved
confirmed

2025 Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) covenant releases for Tax Year 2026

Motion made by John King to approve the releases for all covenants listed for Tax Year 2026; seconded by Sonya Turgeon

Approved
confirmed

Conservation Use Valuation Assessment releases (covenants expiring Dec. 31, 2025 or breached), Tax Year 2026

Motion made by Sonya Turgeon to approve the releases for all covenants listed for Tax Year 2026; seconded by Jimmy Dean; voted unanimously to approve motion.

Appeared on agenda
proposed

2025 conservation use covenant releases

c. Conservation Use: a. 2025 Releases:

Approved
confirmed

2025 Conservation Use Valuation Assessment covenant releases

Motion made by John King to approve the releases for all covenants listed for Tax Year 2026; seconded by Sonya Turgeon; voted unanimously to approve motion.

Appeared on agenda
proposed

2025 conservation use covenant releases

2025 Releases: b. 2026 Approval Listing:

Approved
confirmed

2026 Conservation Use Valuation Assessment covenant releases (expired/breached)

Motion made by Sonya Turgeon to approve the releases for all covenants listed for Tax Year 2026; seconded by John King; voted unanimously to approve motion.

Approved
confirmed

Earl Helton (parcel 026-082) request to end CUVA covenant without penalty

Motion made by Sonya Turgeon to approve the request for Earl Helton to end his Conservation Use Covenant without a Penalty for Tax Year 2026; seconded by John King; voted unanimously to approve motion.

Approved
confirmed

2026 Conservation Use Valuation Assessment covenant releases

Motion made by John King to approve the releases for all covenants listed for Tax Year 2026; seconded by Sonya Turgeon; voted unanimously to approve motion.

Approved
confirmed

2026 Conservation Use Valuation Assessment covenant releases

Motion made by Sonya Turgeon to approve the releases for all covenants listed for Tax Year 2026;

Approved
confirmed

Elaine Banks Conservation Use covenant ended without penalty, parcels 021-033 & 021-034

Motion made by Sonya Turgeon to approve the request for Ms. Elaine Banks to end her Conservation Use Covenant without a Penalty for Tax Year 2026;

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Conservation Use Valuation miscellaneous item: Elaine Banks

Miscellaneous – Banks, Elaine 021-033 & 021-034

Appeared on agenda
proposed

2025 Conservation Use Valuation Assessment releases

Conservation Use Valuation Assessment: i. 2025 Releases

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