The Bremen Board of Education held its monthly meeting on Monday to conduct school district business, including the recommendation to sell a property acquired initially last month.
As a part of the consent agenda on Monday the Board unanimously approved the recommendation to sell 222 Bellwood Drive for $474,000 to Heath and Karen Neal. During a special called meeting in August, the board had presented a resolution, which was unanimously approved, to purchase the property at 222 Bellwood Drive. The school system was authorized to buy the property from Steven and Candace Robbins for $625,000. The house and the surrounding approximately 3.78 acres located on the property are not necessary for school purposes, and the school system is authorized to sell the excess property for fair market value upon terms and conditions approved by Chairman Vann Pelt and Superintendent Shannon Christian.
Christian announced in his superintendent report that House Bill 581, the statewide homestead exemption bill, would be on the local ballot. House Bill 581 makes several changes to property tax rules. It requires property tax bills to show the amount owed and any tax credits clearly and makes sure that properties are reappraised at least every three years. The bill introduces a new statewide homestead exemption and allows homeowners to opt out locally. It also sets up a new local sales tax to help offset property taxes in areas with the homestead exemption. These changes aim to provide tax relief for homeowners but could impact local funding for public services and schools.
Director of Finance Allen Pullen provided an update on the budget and finances through August. For Bremen City Schools, local ad valorem tax collections totaled $5,696,321 for the year, with $218,621 collected in August. The total local tax revenue for FY24 reached $5,789,179, exceeding the target by 1.6%. For FY25, the budget anticipated $500,000 in Title Ad Valorem Taxes, but only $41,192 was collected in August, representing 8.2% of the annual budgeted amount. Additionally, SPLOST collections from Haralson and Carroll amounted to $253,820.58.
