(The Center Square) – Atlanta voters will decide today on a measure that would give additional property relief to residents over the age of 65.
The Georgia General Assembly agreed to pass the proposed ballot amendment that would give property owners over the age of 65 a $50,000 exemption on their Atlanta Public School tax assessment in addition to other exemptions they may already receive.
Fulton County has two property tax referendums on its ballot. One would exempt 25% of the assessed value of the homestead for residents aged 65 and above. A second measure would provide a 50% tax break on the assessed value to residents aged 70 and above.
Georgia polls are traditionally open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but residents voting in Atlanta’s municipal elections have until 8 p.m. to cast their ballot, according to a release from the Atlanta Municipal Clerk. The one hour extension to vote only applies to voting on Atlanta issues, including the mayoral race.
More than 800 local elections are happening in Georgia today.
Only two contested state races are on the ballot. Incumbent Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols, a Republican, is facing Alicia Johnson. Fitz Johnson, another Republican incumbent, is facing Democrat Peter Hubbard.
Just under 9% of Georgia’s registered voters – 640,174 – voted early in the races, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
The Georgia Republican Party has been encouraging its members to vote on its social media pages.
“The same radical billionaires pushing their ‘green’ agenda are funding Democrats who want to control your power, raise your rates, and dim the lights across our state,” a Monday social media post said. “Let’s send them a message loud and clear: Georgia’s energy won’t be bought.”
The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from the organization.
The Georgia Conservation Voters Action Fund invested $2.2 million in hopes of beating the incumbents, the organization said in an email to The Center Square.
“GCV Action Fund launched this campaign because we need cheaper, cleaner power,” Allie Brown, deputy director of Georgia Conservation Voters, said in a statement. “. To get that, we need new leadership on the Public Service Commission. We’re proud of the $2.2 million multi-media campaign, which has engaged over a million voters and clearly prosecuted the case against the PSC.”
