Tuesday, February 4, 2025–6:40 p.m.
-Mo Burge, Rome News-Tribune-
This story is possible because of a news-sharing agreement with the Rome News-Tribune. More information can be found at northwestgeorgianews.com
The Rome and Floyd County governments are working to ease high property tax bills under House Bill 581, though several steps remain before residents see any relief.
During a joint services meeting Tuesday, County Manager Jamie McCord said both the city and county already have a floating homestead exemption — enacted in the 1990s — that provides greater tax relief than what the new bill offers.
“We’ve got a Cadillac plan, and it stays a Cadillac plan,” McCord said. “It’s even better than what’s mandated.”
However, additional action can be taken for Rome and Floyd County property owners to see a reduction in their tax bills.
Another provision of HB 581 allows for a 1-cent sales tax that, if approved by voters, would be used exclusively to lower property taxes.
“It’s money in and money out,” McCord said. “In its purest form, this is property tax relief.”
The sales tax increase can be applied in increments — and it can not be used for anything other than property tax relief, McCord said.
“It has nothing to do with service delivery. It has nothing to do with the local option sales tax, other than the way it is collected and distributed,” he said.
Officials said the 1-cent sales tax measure will be on the ballot this year, though the exact date has not been determined. If approved, Floyd County’s sales tax would increase to 8 cents on the dollar.
However, the measure is not permanent. Even if voters approve the tax this year, it must be reconsidered every five years, McCord explained.
“It’s not a one-shot deal,” he said.
Rome Mayor Craig McDaniel said the tax change under HB 581 is widely misunderstood, overshadowing the potential economic benefits.
“It benefits taxpayers more than anything,” McDaniel said.
The next step for local leaders is to finalize an intergovernmental agreement detailing how city and county property owners would benefit if the measure passes.
