Georgia voters have approved a property tax change that could lower tax bills for some of the state’s largest farming operations, while also raising questions about how the shift could affect local government revenue.
Amendment One doubles the amount of land that can qualify for a special agricultural tax assessment, increasing the acreage cap from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres. Under the existing program, qualifying farmland can be taxed based on its agricultural use rather than its potentially higher market value.
For farmers in south Georgia, the change comes as operating costs continue to climb. Glenn Heard, president and owner of Glenn Heard Farms, started farming with 360 acres in 1980. Today, his operation spans roughly 18,000 acres across four south Georgia counties…