Members of the Ware County Board of Education continue to seek community input as they consider opting out of Georgia House Bill 581, a law that will impact school funding beginning in 2025. HB 581 introduces a statewide homestead exemption that caps the annual increase in property values for tax purposes, limiting growth based on the previous year’s inflation rate.
Ware County already has a local homestead exemption in place, which provides tax relief for homeowners while supporting critical school funding. Because of this, the Board of Education intends to opt out of HB 581 to preserve resources for students. However, the board members remain committed to hearing from the community before making a final decision.
The Board has already held two public hearings to gather community feedback—one in January and a second earlier this month. A final public hearing is scheduled for February 13, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Ware County Board of Education Office, located at 1301 Bailey Street. Immediately following, the Board will hold a Called Board Meeting at 6:15 PM to pass the resolution in response to HB 581.
“We want to ensure that any decision we make reflects the values and priorities of our community,” said Chairman Barry Deas. “Our students are at the heart of everything we do, so it’s important to weigh the impact of HB 581. We ultimately want to do what is best for our students as well as our citizens.”
If you are unable to attend the final public hearing but would like to submit feedback, email the school system at feedback@ware.k12.ga.us.
The Ware County Board of Education encourages all residents to participate in these critical discussions as they make important decisions regarding the future of local education funding.