Sunday, August 3, 2025–7:10 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
Rome City and Floyd County Commissioners will begin discussions this week on how to divide proceeds from a floating sales tax that would help defray property taxes if approved by voters.
The goal is to have a referendum regarding the FLOST on the ballot this November.
The extra penny tax could lower property taxes by 40 percent, maybe more, according to some estimates.
“The penny tax is going to help cut them for the city and county—I heard 40 percent—but I think the city number when I calculated it was higher than that,” said State Senator Chuck Hufstetler, one of the sponsors of the legislation that makes the FLOST possible. “I guess it just depends on the ratio you guys do. However, I think about half the taxes will go away for the homeowners in the city and county if this passes in November.”
Hufstetler stressed that the penny, if approved, can only be used to offset property taxes.
“We put a five-year sunset on it and said we have to renew this in five years in case someone figures out a way to play games in one of these cities or counties around the state, and tries to use it for something other than straight property tax relief,” he said. “We are going to look at it in five years to make sure it does that.”
If the extra penny tax is approved, just like with the other sales taxes, an agreement has to be reached regarding the percentage that the city and county will receive and that’s the topic of the Joint Commission Meeting, which will be on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. in the Fire Administration Center, located at 409 East 12th Street.
