Columbia County homeowners may soon see a major shift in how property taxes are handled. With the passage of House Bill 439, a new path has been created to reduce and potentially eliminate homestead property taxes.
We sat down with Alison Couch, Vice Chair of the Columbia County Commission, to break down what this means, how it works, and what residents should expect.
Alison, for those who may not know you, can you tell us a little about yourself and your role in this effort?
Alison Couch:
“Thank you so much for having me. I’m the Vice Chair of the Columbia County Commission, and this is my fourth year serving. I’m also a business owner here in Columbia County, a wife, and a mom of two. I’ve been working very hard to provide property tax relief for citizens living in Columbia County, and the way that we have found to achieve that is through House Bill 439.”
Let’s start simple. What exactly is House Bill 439?
Alison Couch:
“House Bill 439 is the vessel, if you will, the tool, that allows us to take money generated from other sources, or even budget surplus, and give it back to property owners in Columbia County. This is the avenue we’re going to use to relieve Columbia County citizens from the homestead property tax. It’s simply the ability to take funds from one source and return them to the people who live in our county.”
Will this bill completely eliminate property taxes?
Alison Couch:
“Yes, that is the goal. Now, I would never want to overpromise that your tax bill will go to zero immediately. It may take a few years as the fund builds up. But you will begin to see your property tax decrease, with full elimination as the long-term objective.”
What will this actually look like for homeowners?
Alison Couch:
“On your property tax bill, you’ll still see how your tax is calculated based on your assessed value, your taxable value, and the millage rate. But once this passes, we’ll be able to use something called a Homestead Property Tax Relief Grant Fund. That fund allows us to apply money directly to your bill as a credit. So you’ll receive a reduction in the net amount of property tax due, and the goal is to eliminate it completely.”
What’s the most important thing you want residents to understand before they vote?
Alison Couch:
“The simplest way to think about it is this: imagine a bucket that collects revenue, whether that’s surplus funds or money generated from other sources, and then that bucket is used to give money back to property owners. This program is crucial because it allows us to return funds directly to the citizens of Columbia County.”
Will this impact property values, and if so, should homeowners be concerned?
Alison Couch:
“I believe property values will increase, but that won’t negatively impact homeowners. Even if your home value goes up, your property tax burden is being reduced, or potentially eliminated, through the grant fund. So you benefit from the increased value without the added tax pressure.”
How is this different from anything we’ve seen before?
Alison Couch:
“This is actually new not just for Columbia County, but for the entire state of Georgia. Before House Bill 439, it was against the law to return budget surplus or excess revenue directly back to taxpayers in this way. This creates that opportunity.”
Will this take away any existing exemptions, like senior citizen school tax exemptions?
Alison Couch:
“No, it will not. This is an additional opportunity for property tax relief. It does not replace or remove any existing exemptions, it adds to them.”
How does this benefit the community beyond just lowering taxes?
Alison Couch:
“It helps in multiple ways. First, it puts money back into people’s pockets. You might choose to save that money or you might spend it locally, which helps small businesses and strengthens our economy. I also believe it will increase the value of homes in Columbia County. Who wouldn’t want to live in a county where you don’t have to pay property tax? And there’s another benefit, borrowing power. If property taxes are no longer part of your monthly housing cost, your ability to qualify for a mortgage increases.”
What’s Next?
House Bill 439 has been signed into law, but Columbia County voters will have the final say in November. If approved, the county will begin implementing the Homestead Property Tax Relief Grant Fund, marking a significant step toward reducing and potentially eliminating property taxes for homeowners.