LUMPKIN COUNTY Board of Commissioners Public Hearing Agenda Commissioners Boardroom 99 Courthouse Hill Dahlonega, GA 30533 August 8, 2024 9:00 AM  a  DAMLOHECA  Call to Order  Public Comment on Property Tax Increase  Adjournment    LUMPKIN COUNTY Board of commissioners Public Hearing Minutes Commissioners Boardroom 99 Courthouse Hill Dahlonega, GA 30533 August 8, 2024 9:00 AM  OUNTI  3  Call to Order  Ther meeting was called to order at 9:03 am. Present were Commissioners Bobby Mayfield, Tucker Greene, and. JeffMoran.  Chairman Chris Dockery and Commissioner Rhett Stringer were absent.  Public Comment on Property Tax Increase  Jeramy Nye reiterated] his comment from the most recent public hearing about not raising property taxes. Skye McIntyre, resident of 86 Sleepy Hollow Road, had: some questions and concerns about the millage rates andt the senior tax exemption. She said shel has lived] here for 42 years along with much ofher family. She was curious how we. decide on the millage rate, and why] Lumpkin County has a senior tax exemption. She also said she heard abouta a referendum that willl be on the ballots in November, andi it has something to do with property taxes and how home values County Manager Alan Ours explained that the homestead exemption and thes senior exemption are both State exemptions, but the senior one came about through local legislation. There is ai referendum on the ballot this fall. Ifitj passes, property values will only increase by what the State Revenue Commissioner sets according to the cost-of-living index. Mr. Ours also explained that the millage ratei is not increasing, but taxes collected may increase due tol higher assessed home values. Ifthe referendum passes, your home value will be locked in by the state. Your assessed value is 40% oft thel Fair Ms. McIntyre asked ifLumpkin County has ani income cap on the senior tax exemption, and Mr. Ours replied no. She asked how to initiate thej process ofhaving the exemption changed, and Mr. Ours said she would have to speak to our local state representatives, Steve Gooch and Will Wade. Ms. McIntyre asked the Commissioners ift they would be open to possibly having an income limit set on the exemption, and Commissioners Greene and] Mayfield bothindicated they  willl be calculated.  Market value, he explained.  would be open to discussing the possibility. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 am. Seplenperizase  Adjournment  Date Attest:  ChrisDockery, Chairman Lumpkin County BomrérCommisioner:  Melissa Witcher Clerk, Lumpkin County  AAglocldebey  Public Hearing August 8, 2024 1