§ 1507. Homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes for educational purposes.

(1)

For purposes of this Act, the terms:

(1)

Ad valorem taxes for educational purposes means all ad valorem taxes for educational purposes levied by, for, or on behalf of the DeKalb County School District, including, but not limited to, taxes to pay interest on and to retire school bond indebtedness.

(2)

Homestead means homestead as defined and qualified in Code section 48-5-40 of the O.C.G.A.

(2)

(a)

Each resident of the DeKalb County School District is granted an exemption on that person's homestead from all DeKalb County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) of the assessed value of that homestead in each taxable year in which a sales and use tax for educational purposes is imposed and collected in such school district for any portion of that year pursuant to article VIII, section VI, paragraph IV of the Constitution. The value of that property in excess of such exempted amount shall remain subject to taxation.

(b)

A person shall not receive the homestead exemption granted by subsection (a) of this section unless the person or person's agent files an affidavit with the tax commissioner of DeKalb County giving such information relative to receiving such exemption as will enable the tax commissioner to make a determination as to whether such owner is entitled to such exemption. The tax commissioner shall provide affidavit forms for this purpose.

(3)

The tax commissioner of DeKalb County or the designee thereof shall provide application forms for the exemption granted by this Act and shall require such information as may be necessary to determine the initial and continuing eligibility of the owner for the exemption.

(4)

The exemption shall be claimed and returned as provided in Code section 48-5-50.1 of the O.C.G.A. The exemption shall be automatically renewed from year to year as long as the owner occupies the residence as a homestead. After a person has filed the proper affidavit as provided in subsection (b) of section 2 of this Act, it shall not be necessary to make application and file such affidavit thereafter for any year, and the exemption shall continue to be allowed to such person. It shall be the duty of any person granted the homestead exemption under this Act to notify the tax commissioner of DeKalb County or the designee thereof in the event that person for any reason becomes ineligible for that exemption.

(5)

The exemption granted by this Act shall not apply to or affect any state taxes, county taxes for county purposes, municipal taxes, or independent school district taxes. The homestead exemption granted by this Act shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other homestead exemption applicable to DeKalb County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes.

(6)

The exemption granted by this Act shall apply to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2008.

(Acts 2002, p. 5529, §§ 1—7; Acts 2008, pg. 3877, §§ 1—6)

Editor's note

The provisions of section 1507 above were approved by the electors at the November, 2002, statewide general election.