Georgia voters will face three proposed changes to the state constitution when they go to the polls on Nov. 3, with measures addressing property tax benefits for farmland, how probate judges are elected and funding for emergency 911 services.
The amendments will appear on ballots statewide, including in Northwest Georgia counties such as Floyd, Walker, Catoosa, Dade, Chattooga, Gordon, Murray and Whitfield. Each proposal will be considered separately, and a majority of voters casting ballots on each question must approve it for the amendment to pass.
Farmland and timberland tax benefits
House Resolution 32 proposes expanding the amount of property an individual landowner can enroll in Georgia’s Conservation Use Valuation Assessment program.
The current limit allows a landowner to receive the tax benefit on up to 2,000 acres of qualifying property. If voters approve the amendment, that maximum would increase to 4,000 acres.
The CUVA program allows eligible agricultural and timberland properties to be taxed according to their value in conservation use rather than their fair market value. The difference can result in lower property taxes for landowners who meet the program’s requirements.
Supporters of the proposed expansion say increasing the acreage limit could provide additional financial relief to agricultural and timberland owners and help preserve working farms and forestland.
Probate judge elections
House Resolution 251 would establish nonpartisan elections for probate court judges throughout Georgia.
Probate courts handle a range of legal matters, including wills, estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships.
Under the proposed amendment, candidates for probate judge would run without political party affiliations appearing on the ballot. The change would create a uniform statewide requirement for nonpartisan probate court elections.
Funding for emergency 911 services
House Resolution 1243 addresses the funding of Georgia’s emergency communications systems.
The proposal would authorize the General Assembly to dedicate certain existing revenues, including funds redirected through legislation, to a special fund reserved exclusively for the expansion, maintenance and operation of emergency 911 services.
The funding mechanism could help local emergency communications centers maintain their operations, replace or upgrade equipment and implement newer emergency response technology.
One area of focus is Next Generation 911, a modernization effort designed to expand the information emergency dispatchers can receive. Depending on the system and its capabilities, the technology can allow emergency centers to receive text messages, photographs and videos in addition to traditional voice calls.
If approved, the amendment would establish a constitutional basis for dedicating designated state revenues to support emergency communications infrastructure.
Election day and early voting
Georgia’s general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 13 and continue through Oct. 30.
Voters will decide each constitutional amendment independently. A “yes” vote supports adopting the proposed constitutional change, while a “no” vote opposes it.
The three questions will give voters a say in policies affecting agricultural property owners, the selection of probate court judges and the long-term funding of emergency communications services across the state.
