AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Richmond County School Board is continuing its discussions surrounding the impact of House Bill 581 and its potential effects on local homeowners and school funding. At a meeting held on Monday night, parents and community members voiced concerns and support regarding the homestead exemption, which was signed into law by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in April 2024.

The law provides tax relief to homeowners, but Richmond County School Board members are considering opting out of the exemption. Chief Financial Officer Bobby Smith explained that the county is already capped on its millage rate, and the existing homestead exemptions are sufficient. Smith emphasized that opting out would not affect assessed values but would help to preserve funding for the school district by maintaining the current millage rate.

“Your community lives and breathes on the quality of your schools. It’s crucial to keep money here for your students,” said Lisa Martin, a local resident who spoke in support of the recommendation to opt out of the exemption.

Some parents, however, raised concerns about additional financial burdens. One parent, a disabled veteran and homeowner, expressed frustration over the potential impact on homeowners, saying, “I don’t need any more burden placed on me to be able to stay here in Richmond County.”

The school board has scheduled additional public hearings to gather feedback from the community. The next hearing will take place on Tuesday, February 11th at 3:30 PM at 864 Broad Street, with an adoption public hearing scheduled for February 18th at 6:30 PM.

In addition to the discussions on tax relief, the school board is also addressing growing concerns about student safety. Interim Superintendent Dr. Malinda Cobb announced that metal detectors will be installed at Cross Creek, Laney, and Butler High Schools as part of an effort to improve security across the district. The move follows a previous announcement last fall by Deputy Superintendent Horace Dunson, who confirmed that metal detectors would be placed at Cross Creek High.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, and these metal detectors are one of the steps we are taking to address safety concerns,” Cobb said.

While the installation of metal detectors is initially focused on three high schools, the district may expand the initiative to other schools based on the results of the program.

As Richmond County continues to weigh the pros and cons of House Bill 581 and work to improve school safety, parents and community members are encouraged to participate in upcoming public hearings. Further details on the hearings can be found on the Richmond County School Board website.

The community will continue to monitor these developments as the school board makes crucial decisions about funding and student security in the coming months.