Homestead Exemption; Cherokee County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes; provide

School tax relief for Cherokee County homeowners

The law creates a Cherokee County school tax exemption for tax years January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2031. It requires approval by more than half of votes cast in the November 3, 2026, referendum. The exemption covers assessed home value above an adjusted base-year value, not the home's entire value. The base year is the year before the current owner first receives the exemption. The tax commissioner adjusts that base value annually by no more than 4%. Coverage includes the primary home and up to five surrounding acres that share a boundary. Improvements and added land receive their own base year when added; removing property triggers a recalculation. The exemption adds to other school homestead exemptions, and value not exempted remains taxable. It does not cover bond taxes or state, city, or county-purpose taxes. Owners or their agents must apply once to the county tax commissioner. The exemption renews automatically while the owner lives there as a homestead; owners must report lost eligibility. A surviving spouse can keep the exemption while continuing to live there as a homestead. The county must hold and pay for the referendum, and its election superintendent must certify results to the Secretary of State. A court order can compel the superintendent to hold the election. Without voter approval, or if no election occurs, the exemption does not start and the act is repealed 365 days after the scheduled election date.