Colquitt County; ad valorem tax for county purposes; provide homestead exemption

Property tax relief for Colquitt County homeowners

The law creates a $10,000 exemption from a qualifying Colquitt County homestead’s assessed value, not a $10,000 tax refund. It applies starting January 1, 2027, subject to approval by more than half the votes cast in the county’s 2026 general-primary referendum. County residents must occupy a home that qualifies under state homestead rules, with no more than five contiguous acres included. You must apply to the county tax commissioner, who provides application forms. The exemption renews automatically while you remain eligible; you must report when your eligibility ends. It covers county-purpose property taxes, but not county debt payments, state taxes, school taxes, or city taxes. Value above the exempt amount remains taxable. It replaces the exemption under Georgia Code Section 48-5-44 but adds to other applicable county-purpose exemptions. Without voter approval or a properly conducted election, the exemption does not take effect. In that case, the law is automatically repealed on the 365th day after the election date.