Rockdale Citizen | Rockdale commissioner says it may be time to revisit HOST

CONYERS — It may be time to reevaluate Rockdale County’s 100 percent Homestead Option Sales Tax exemption, Post 2 Commissioner JaNice Van Ness said at the Board of Commissioner’s work session last week.

In comments at the close of the Aug. 6 meeting, Van Ness said that the 100 percent HOST exemption for owner-occupied residences leaves some homeowners with a relatively small county tax bill. She said some residents in the Hidden Acres subdivision had complained that their county tax bills were sometimes less than $20 and they felt they should do more to support the county government. “They want to be contributors in the community,” she said.

Van Ness said she felt some consideration should be given to reducing the exemption and more evenly sharing the tax burden between residential and commercial properties.

“I really have concerns that this needs to be moved back to 65 percent … to offset and help the businesses in our community,” she said.

Van Ness said she’s also concerned that not all homeowners who qualify for the exemption understand the benefits and are taking advantage of the HOST.

“This is just a thought as we move forward that there may be a different plan of action,” Van Ness said. “I know we are the only county in the state of Georgia who has the full reduction for HOST … it may be time that we reevaluate that … “

DeKalb County is the only other county in the state that offers a HOST exemption.

via Rockdale Citizen | Rockdale commissioner says it may be time to revisit HOST.