Palmetto, City of; ad valorem tax for municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption

City property tax exemption for Palmetto seniors

The law creates a full assessed-value exemption from Palmetto city property taxes for qualifying senior homeowners, subject to local voter approval. Seniors must be 65 or older by January 1 of the year they apply. Their home must qualify as their homestead under Georgia law. The exemption covers city taxes, including taxes for city bond debt, but not state, county, or school taxes. It replaces any other Palmetto city homestead exemption. Seniors or their agents must apply to the city or its designee and provide age and eligibility information. The city must supply application forms. Once granted, the exemption renews automatically while the home remains their homestead; no annual application is required. Recipients must tell the city when they no longer qualify. The law requires a city vote on November 3, 2026. Approval by more than half of votes cast starts the exemption January 1, 2027, for that tax year and later years. Without approval, or if the election is not held as required, the exemption never starts. The act is then automatically repealed 365 days after the scheduled election. Palmetto pays election costs and must certify results to Georgia’s Secretary of State. Notice must appear in Coweta and Fulton counties’ official newspapers for two consecutive weeks before the election. Voters can seek a court order to enforce the election requirements, including an election on the next available lawful date.