Measures on the ballot in two counties would increase the homestead exemption yearly at the same rate that values increase. When the house is sold or remodeled, the exemption would be refigured, shooting up taxes, which would then remain level until the next sale or renovation. Proponents claim the new measures would keep retirees on fixed incomes from having to sell their houses to satisfy the tax man. When asked, voters have approved of freezing taxes in several Georgia jurisdictions, including Columbus 17 years ago and Gwinnett County in July. In Columbus, residents were given the chance to repeal it in 1992, and they voted overwhelmingly to keep it.
People seem to like it.
That huge majority is one reason officials in Columbus agreed to defend the concept against a recently filed lawsuit that questions its constitutionality. The lawsuit alleges such freezes aren't fair because they don't treat all homeowners equally. Two neighbors with the same-size houses could be taxed differently depending on the values and the times when the residences were purchased. It's fundamentally unjust. It's bad public policy, and it's bad for business.