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By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - Pike County voters will be deciding whether to increase the exemption of school taxes for residents who are 62 years of age or older in the upcoming November 2022 election.
Discussion of a vote on the proposed senior tax exemption occurred during the last four months of 2021 in Pike County Board of Education meetings. The vote was unanimous to send this measure to the Georgia Legislature in order to ask permission for a vote on the November 2022 ballot.
The Georgia Legislature gave its approval, and now Pike County voters get to voice their opinion on whether to increase the current school exemption for qualified seniors.
Who qualifies for the current exemption, and how will this effect the county?
What the Current School Tax Exemption?
Senior citizens in our county currently have the ability to apply for a $10,000 property tax exemption on the school portion of their property taxes within certain income limits that include $12,000 for those age 62 and above and $27,000 for those age 65 and above. These exemptions are based on income eligibility and must be applied for by the person asking for this exemption.
According to the Tax Commissioner’s and Tax Assessor’s offices, the current exemptions for applicants age 62 and age 65 are based on the net income of each applicant and spouse not to exceed $10,000 for the immediately preceding year.
PLEASE NOTE: Net income does NOT include retirement, survivor, or disability benefits under the Social Security Act. Net income also does NOT include public or private retirement, disability, or pension system except if this income is more than the maximum amount authorized to be paid to an individual and/or applicant and spouse under the federal Social Security Act.
Income from sources such as that in excess of the maximum allowed amount of Social Security is included as part of applicant net income when determining whether an applicant and/or applicant and spouse are eligible for this local tax break.
According to the Georgia Department of Revenue, “The social security maximum amount for tax year 2022 is $80,280 which amount may be used when determining the eligibility of an applicant and spouse seeking the elderly homestead exemptions for tax year 2022.”
How Will This Vote Affect the County?
If there is a NO vote, nothing will change, and applicants can continue to apply for a $10,000 senior exemption from annual school taxes.
However, if voters choose to allow this exemption for senior citizens who are age 62-64, age 65-69, and age 70 and above, the changes will be as follows:
Once again, readers and possible applicants need to remember that net income does NOT include retirement, survivor, or disability benefits under the Social Security Act. Net income also does NOT include public or private retirement, disability, or pension system except if this income which is in more than the maximum amount authorized to be paid to an individual and/or applicant and spouse under the federal Social Security Act.
Those who are age 62-64 can choose to apply for an exemption of $20,000.00 from their annual school taxes if their income (not including social security, pension, retirement, etc. listed above) is below $12,000.00 a year.
Those who are age 65-69 can choose to apply for an exemption of $30,000.00 from their annual school taxes if their income (not including social security, pension, retirement, etc. listed above) is below $27,000.00 a year.
Those who are age 70 and above can choose to apply for an exemption of $50,000.00 from their annual school taxes if their income (not including social security, pension, retirement, etc. listed above) is below $27,000.00 a year.
And those who are age 70 and above can choose to apply for an exemption of $20,000.00 from their annual school taxes with no income requirements.
Closing
According to the minutes from the December 2021 school board meeting, the projected the impact of this tax will be approximately .33 mills or $179,679 on the Maintenance and Operations part of the annual school budget and .05 mills or $29,661 on the bond part of the annual school budget.
The YES or NO ballot question will be a part of the November 2022 ballot and read as follows, “Shall the Act be approved which increases the exemptions from school district taxes for residents who are age 62 or older, depending on income, and provides for a new exemption, regardless of income, for residents who are age 70 or older?"
If more than 50% of Pike County voters vote yes on a tax break for senior citizens in our county, the legislation will become law on January 1, 2023.
Thank you to School Board Member Marcie Bradberry, School Finance Director Debbie Woerner, and Superintendent Michael Duncan for answering my questions and providing information for this detailed article.
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