In a recent announcement that may come as a relief to many DeKalb County homeowners, CEO Michael Thurmond made known a considerable property tax easement. The declaration, which was reported yesterday on the DeKalb County Government's website, highlighted that the county's Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax (EHOST) credit will provide $162 million in property tax relief for 2024. This measure significantly benefits those with homestead exemptions, potentially reducing, or even completely offsetting, their property tax liability.
Amid economic headwinds, the EHOST credit is expected to provide relief by averaging around $1,500 in tax reductions for qualified homes valued at $425,000. "DeKalb County is the only county in Georgia with a local sales tax that is 100 percent dedicated to property tax relief," Thurmond emphasized, highlighting the county's distinctive strategy in easing financial burdens for homeowners, which appears to be a stabilizing factor amid inflationary pressures, as reported by DeKalb County. Additionally, according to the county CEO, there will be no increase in the unincorporated millage rate proposal for the eighth consecutive year.
Back in 2017, the inaugural EHOST I was given the green light by voters, bringing in $738 million in property tax relief. Following its success, November 2023 saw a robust 76 percent voter turnout in DeKalb County casting ballots in favor of extending EHOST for an additional six years. The expectation is that EHOST II will deliver $1 billion in property tax savings to homeowners over the duration of this period.
Residents should note that current-year EHOST tax relief specifics can be found in the “EHOST Credit” column on their 2024 DeKalb County Real Property Tax Statement. However, it should be understood that the EHOST credit does not apply to taxes imposed by DeKalb municipalities, school districts, or tax allocation districts. These caveats are part of an effort for transparency and clarity surrounding the new relief measures.
