Effingham county plans homestead tax break funded by sales tax

Effingham County; ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption

Introduced· 2026-06-17

Who's it for

Who's it for: Everyday People

What it means for you

5/10Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad ·

Cost shiftHeavily funded

Plain‑English summary, cross‑checked against the official bill text.

If passed, the bill would let homeowners in Effingham get a property tax cut, paid for by a new local sales tax on everyone.

Our take

What we think, in plain words.

Homeowners could save money on their yearly tax bill, but the county will need to replace that money with a sales tax that all shoppers will pay, so other residents may see higher prices.

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The facts

What the bill actually says, no spin.

Bill proposes a homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes in Effingham County.
Exemption amount equals the assessed value of the homestead property.
Funding would come from a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax in the same area.
The bill includes definitions, procedures, a referendum, and automatic repeal provisions.
Sponsors are Rep. Bill Hitchens and Rep. Jon Burns.