| 5 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 6 | | To provide a homestead exemption from Paulding County school district ad valorem taxes |
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| 8 | 7 | | 1 |
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| 9 | 8 | | for educational purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year2 |
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| 10 | 9 | | assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value of such3 |
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| 11 | 10 | | homestead; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption4 |
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| 12 | 11 | | and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance5 |
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| 13 | 12 | | with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic6 |
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| 14 | 13 | | repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply;7 |
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| 15 | 14 | | to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 |
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| 16 | 15 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 |
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| 17 | 16 | | SECTION 1.10 |
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| 18 | 17 | | (a) As used in this Act, the term:11 |
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| 19 | 18 | | (1) "Ad valorem taxes" means all ad valorem taxes levied by, for, or on behalf of the12 |
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| 20 | 19 | | Paulding County school district for educational purposes, except for any ad valorem taxes13 |
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| 21 | 20 | | levied to pay interest on and to retire bonded indebtedness.14 |
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| 22 | 21 | | (2) "Adjusted base year assessed value" means the sum of:15 |
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| 23 | 22 | | (A) The previous adjusted base year assessed value;16 |
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| 24 | 23 | | S. B. 355 |
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| 25 | 24 | | - 1 - 25 LC 47 3674 |
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| 26 | 25 | | (B) An amount equal to the difference between the current year assessed value of the |
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| 27 | 26 | | 17 |
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| 28 | 27 | | homestead and the base year assessed value of the homestead, provided that such18 |
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| 29 | 28 | | amount shall not exceed the total of the previous adjusted base year assessed value of19 |
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| 30 | 29 | | the homestead multiplied by the inflation rate for the prior year; and20 |
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| 31 | 30 | | (C) The value of any substantial property change, provided that no such value added21 |
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| 32 | 31 | | improvements to the homestead shall be duplicated as to the same addition or22 |
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| 33 | 32 | | improvement.23 |
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| 34 | 33 | | (3) "Base year assessed value" means:24 |
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| 35 | 34 | | (A) With respect to an exemption under this section which is first granted to a person25 |
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| 36 | 35 | | on such person's homestead for the 2027 taxable year, the assessed value for taxable26 |
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| 37 | 36 | | year 2024, including any final determination of value on appeal pursuant to Code27 |
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| 38 | 37 | | Section 48-5-311 of the O.C.G.A., of the homestead; or28 |
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| 39 | 38 | | (B) In all other cases, the assessed value, including any final determination of value on29 |
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| 40 | 39 | | appeal pursuant to Code Section 48-5-311 of the O.C.G.A., of the homestead from the30 |
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| 41 | 40 | | taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year in which the exemption under this31 |
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| 42 | 41 | | section is first granted to the applicant.32 |
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| 43 | 42 | | (4) "Homestead" means homestead as defined and qualified in Code Section 48-5-40 of33 |
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| 44 | 43 | | the O.C.G.A., as amended.34 |
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| 45 | 44 | | (5) "Inflation rate" means the annual inflationary index rate as determined for a given35 |
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| 46 | 45 | | year by the Paulding County tax commissioner in accordance with subsection (f) of this36 |
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| 47 | 46 | | section.37 |
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| 48 | 47 | | (6) "Previous adjusted base year assessed value" means:38 |
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| 49 | 48 | | (A) With respect to the year for which the exemption under this section is first granted39 |
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| 50 | 49 | | to a person on such person's homestead, the base year assessed value; or40 |
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| 51 | 50 | | (B) In all other cases, the adjusted base year assessed value of the homestead as41 |
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| 52 | 51 | | calculated in the taxable year immediately preceding the current year, including any42 |
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| 53 | 52 | | S. B. 355 |
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| 54 | 53 | | - 2 - 25 LC 47 3674 |
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| 55 | 54 | | final determination of value on appeal pursuant to Code Section 48-5-311 of the |
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| 56 | 55 | | 43 |
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| 57 | 56 | | O.C.G.A.44 |
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| 58 | 57 | | (7) "Substantial property change" means any increase or decrease in the assessed value45 |
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| 59 | 58 | | of a homestead derived from additions or improvements to, or the removal of real46 |
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| 60 | 59 | | property from, the homestead which occurred after the year in which the base year47 |
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| 61 | 60 | | assessed value is determined for the homestead. The assessed value of the substantial48 |
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| 62 | 61 | | property changes shall be established following any final determination of value on49 |
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| 63 | 62 | | appeal pursuant to Code Section 48-5-311 of the O.C.G.A.50 |
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| 64 | 63 | | (b)(1) Subject to the limitations provided in this section, each resident of the Paulding51 |
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| 65 | 64 | | County school district is granted an exemption on that person's homestead from ad52 |
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| 66 | 65 | | valorem taxes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value53 |
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| 67 | 66 | | of that homestead, including any final determination of value on appeal pursuant to Code54 |
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| 68 | 67 | | Section 48-5-311, exceeds its previous adjusted base year assessed value.55 |
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| 69 | 68 | | (2) Except as provided for in subsection (c) of this section, no exemption provided for56 |
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| 70 | 69 | | in this subsection shall transfer to any subsequent owner of the property, and the assessed57 |
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| 71 | 70 | | value of the property shall be as provided by law.58 |
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| 72 | 71 | | (c) No person shall receive the exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section unless59 |
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| 73 | 72 | | such person or person's agent files an application with the tax commissioner of Paulding60 |
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| 74 | 73 | | County as will enable the tax commissioner to make a determination regarding the initial61 |
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| 75 | 74 | | and continuing eligibility of such person for such exemption; provided, however, that any62 |
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| 76 | 75 | | person who had previously applied for a homestead exemption, was allowed such63 |
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| 77 | 76 | | homestead exemption for the 2026 tax year, and remains eligible for a homestead64 |
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| 78 | 77 | | exemption for that same homestead property in the 2027 tax year shall be automatically65 |
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| 79 | 78 | | allowed the exemption granted under subsection (b) of this section for that homestead66 |
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| 80 | 79 | | without further application. The tax commissioner shall provide application forms for this67 |
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| 81 | 80 | | purpose.68 |
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| 82 | 81 | | S. B. 355 |
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| 83 | 82 | | - 3 - 25 LC 47 3674 |
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| 84 | 83 | | (d) The exemption shall be claimed and returned as provided in Code Section 48-5-50.1 |
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| 85 | 84 | | 69 |
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| 86 | 85 | | of the O.C.G.A., as amended. The exemption shall be automatically renewed from year70 |
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| 87 | 86 | | to year so long as the person granted the homestead exemption under subsection (b) of this71 |
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| 88 | 87 | | section occupies the residence as a homestead. After such person has filed the proper72 |
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| 89 | 88 | | application as provided in subsection (c) of this section, it shall not be necessary to make73 |
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| 90 | 89 | | application thereafter for any year, and such exemption shall continue to be allowed to such74 |
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| 91 | 90 | | person. It shall be the duty of any such person granted the homestead exemption under75 |
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| 92 | 91 | | subsection (b) of this section to notify the tax commissioner of Paulding County in the76 |
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| 93 | 92 | | event that such person for any reason becomes ineligible for such exemption. The77 |
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| 94 | 93 | | unremarried surviving spouse of the person who has been granted the exemption provided78 |
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| 95 | 94 | | for in subsection (b) of this section shall continue to receive the exemption provided under79 |
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| 96 | 95 | | subsection (b) of this section, so long as that unremarried surviving spouse continues to80 |
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| 97 | 96 | | occupy the home as a residence and homestead.81 |
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| 98 | 97 | | (e)(1) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to or affect82 |
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| 99 | 98 | | any state ad valorem taxes, county ad valorem taxes for county purposes, independent83 |
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| 100 | 99 | | school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes, or municipal ad valorem taxes84 |
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| 101 | 100 | | for municipal purposes.85 |
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| 102 | 101 | | (2) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, the homestead86 |
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| 103 | 102 | | exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall be in addition to and not in lieu87 |
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| 104 | 103 | | of any other homestead exemption applicable to ad valorem taxes.88 |
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| 105 | 104 | | (3) The homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall not be89 |
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| 106 | 105 | | applied in addition to any other base year value homestead exemption provided by law90 |
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| 107 | 106 | | with respect to the Paulding County school district. In any such event, the Paulding91 |
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| 108 | 107 | | County tax commissioner shall apply only the base year value homestead exemption that92 |
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| 109 | 108 | | is larger or more beneficial for the taxpayer with respect to the Paulding County school93 |
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| 110 | 109 | | district.94 |
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| 111 | 110 | | S. B. 355 |
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| 112 | 111 | | - 4 - 25 LC 47 3674 |
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| 113 | 112 | | (f) For the purposes of this section, the Paulding County tax commissioner shall utilize the |
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| 114 | 113 | | 95 |
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| 115 | 114 | | Georgia Department of Revenue's promulgated standardized method for determining96 |
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| 116 | 115 | | annual inflationary index rates which reflect the effects of inflation and deflation on the97 |
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| 117 | 116 | | cost of living for residents of this state for a given calendar year. Such method may utilize98 |
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| 118 | 117 | | the Consumer Price Index as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States99 |
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| 119 | 118 | | Department of Labor or any other similar index established by the federal government if100 |
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| 120 | 119 | | the Paulding County tax commissioner determines that such federal index fairly reflects the101 |
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| 121 | 120 | | effects of inflation and deflation on residents of this state.102 |
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| 122 | 121 | | (g) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall apply to all taxable years103 |
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| 123 | 122 | | beginning on or after January 1, 2027.104 |
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| 124 | 123 | | SECTION 2.105 |
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| 125 | 124 | | In accordance with the requirements of Article VII, Section II of the Constitution of the State106 |
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| 126 | 125 | | of Georgia, this Act shall not become law unless it receives the requisite two-thirds' majority107 |
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| 127 | 126 | | vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.108 |
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| 128 | 127 | | SECTION 3.109 |
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| 129 | 128 | | The election superintendent of Paulding County shall call and conduct an election as110 |
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| 130 | 129 | | provided in this section for the purpose of submitting this Act to the electors of the Paulding111 |
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| 131 | 130 | | County school district for approval or rejection. The election superintendent shall conduct112 |
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| 132 | 131 | | that election on the date of the 2026 general primary and shall issue the call and conduct that113 |
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| 133 | 132 | | election as provided by general law. The election superintendent shall cause the date and114 |
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| 134 | 133 | | purpose of the election to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding115 |
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| 135 | 134 | | the date thereof in the official organ of Paulding County. The ballot shall have written or116 |
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| 136 | 135 | | printed thereon the words:117 |
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| 137 | 136 | | S. B. 355 |
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| 138 | 137 | | - 5 - 25 LC 47 3674 |
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| 139 | 138 | | "( ) YES |
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| 140 | 139 | | 118 |
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| 141 | 140 | | 119 |
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| 142 | 141 | | ( ) NO120 |
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| 143 | 142 | | 121 |
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| 144 | 143 | | 122 |
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| 145 | 144 | | 123 |
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| 146 | 145 | | Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from |
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| 147 | 146 | | Paulding County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes |
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| 148 | 147 | | in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value |
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| 149 | 148 | | of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value, including any |
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| 150 | 149 | | final determination of value on appeal pursuant to Code Section 48-5-311 |
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| 151 | 150 | | of the O.C.G.A., as amended, of such homestead?" |
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| 152 | 151 | | All persons desiring to vote for approval of the Act shall vote "Yes," and all persons desiring |
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| 153 | 152 | | 124 |
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| 154 | 153 | | to vote for rejection of the Act shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes cast on125 |
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| 155 | 154 | | such question are for approval of the Act, Section 1 of this Act shall become of full force and126 |
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| 156 | 155 | | effect on January 1, 2027. If the Act is not so approved or if the election is not conducted127 |
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| 157 | 156 | | as provided in this section, Section 1 of this Act shall not become effective, and this Act shall128 |
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| 158 | 157 | | be automatically repealed on the 365th calendar day following the election date provided for129 |
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| 159 | 158 | | in this section. The expense of such election shall be borne by Paulding County. It shall be130 |
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| 160 | 159 | | the election superintendent's duty to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State. The131 |
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| 161 | 160 | | provisions of this section shall be mandatory upon the election superintendent and are not132 |
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| 162 | 161 | | intended as directory. If the election superintendent fails or refuses to comply with this133 |
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| 163 | 162 | | section, any elector of the Paulding County school district may apply for a writ of mandamus134 |
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| 164 | 163 | | to compel the election superintendent to perform his or her duties under this section. If the135 |
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| 165 | 164 | | court finds that the election superintendent has not complied with this section, the court shall136 |
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| 166 | 165 | | fashion appropriate relief requiring the election superintendent to call and conduct such137 |
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| 167 | 166 | | election on the date required by this section or on the next date authorized for special138 |
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| 168 | 167 | | elections provided for in Code Section 21-2-540 of the O.C.G.A.139 |
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| 169 | 168 | | SECTION 4.140 |
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| 170 | 169 | | Except as otherwise provided in Section 3 of this Act, this Act shall become effective upon141 |
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| 171 | 170 | | its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.142 |
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| 172 | 171 | | S. B. 355 |
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| 173 | 172 | | - 6 - 25 LC 47 3674 |
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| 174 | 173 | | SECTION 5. |
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| 175 | 174 | | 143 |
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| 176 | 175 | | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.144 |
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| 177 | 176 | | S. B. 355 |
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| 178 | 177 | | - 7 - |
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