HB 48, Powell – 171  

Freeport exemptions shall be authorized by local referendum for goods in inventory not yet sold. A second referendum must wait at least 5 years. Currently, goods in GA to be shipped out of state are subject to a freeport exemption.  If this passes, it will lower the value of every tax digest and thus the revenues for every entity of local government which depends on the property tax for revenues, including school districts. But local boards of education are not at the decision table, only county commissions or city councils. Part of the governor's competitive initiative.