A ballot issue that would allow voters to decide whether the county can implement a one-cent sales tax, which should result in lower property taxes, has been authorized by the White County Board of Commissioners.
The commission authorized the inclusion of a Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) question in this year’s November balloting after reaching an intergovernmental agreement with the cities of Helen and Cleveland.
FLOST is a local choice sales and use tax that is floating and costs pennies on the dollar. It is anticipated to raise around $45,000,000. If voters accept the tax, officials claim that at least 60% of the money raised will come from county visitors. According to Georgia law, those monies must be used to lower property taxes.
Commissioners stated that property owners in Helen and Cleveland will also benefit from the tax reduction, in addition to county taxpayers.
According to officials, if the sales tax is adopted, county property taxes will be lowered by half and city property taxes will be eliminated.
Travis Turner, the chairman of the White County Commission, pointed out that lowering the school tax rate is not part of the tax relief.
Although Turner stated that they are unable to publicly advertise this sales tax, he advised county citizens to conduct study and determine how this may impact them. Additionally, all property owners—not just those who own residential homes—would be more impacted if this were to pass in November. In fact, properties registered under company or commercial names would even benefit.
The ballot for November will include the FLOST question.
