At its meeting on Tuesday, September 2, Mayor Lester Miller recommended and the Commission passed a Resolution asking Macon-Bibb County’s Local Legislative Delegation to introduce legislation to establish new homestead exemptions on ad valorem taxes for people 65 and older. These exemptions would apply to the property taxes paid to both Macon-Bibb County Consolidated Government and the Bibb County School District.

“After five straight years of millage rate reductions, we continue to look for ways to help out the people of Macon-Bibb County,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “The success of our OLOST combined with increased efficiencies in government operations and significantly increased tourism means we have another chance to help.”

Currently, people can claim a $7,000 exemption on their residential homestead, but the request would be to create a tiered level of exemptions that increases as people get older. Additional homestead exemptions would be added for people when they reach 65, 75, and 85 years of age (regardless of income).

"By providing tax relief, seniors are more likely to remain in their homes rather than selling or downsizing due to financial pressure. This stability can help maintain a consistent neighborhood demographic, which often leads to steadier property values," said Mayor Miller when he announced the recommendation on August 28.

At age 65, they will receive an additional $10,000 exemption, and at age 75, they will receive an additional $15,000 exemption. Once they reach 85, they will no longer pay property taxes to the county nor school district. All exemptions would be applied to both the county and school millage rates.

The Georgia Constitution says that adopting a new local homestead exemption requires a local act of the Georgia General Assembly, as well as a ballot referendum within Macon-Bibb County to approve the new exemption. The Resolution will be forward to the Local Legislative Delegation to take up the matter in the next Session.