CEO Thurmond Announces $162 Million in Property Tax Relief for DeKalb Homeowners

Millage rate unchanged for eighth straight year

Today, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond announced the county’s Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax (EHOST) credit for 2024 will provide $162 million in property tax relief for property owners with homestead exemptions. 

Qualified homeowners receive an EHOST credit that reduces or offsets property tax liability. The amount of property tax relief received by a qualified homeowner is based on the assessed value of the homesteaded property and sales tax revenue generated by EHOST. On average, the EHOST credit will generate a tax reduction of approximately $1,500 for qualified homes valued at $425,000.

“DeKalb County is the only county in Georgia with a local sales tax that is 100 percent dedicated to property tax relief,” said CEO Thurmond. “In addition, for the eighth consecutive year, the proposed unincorporated millage rate has not increased. Our EHOST property tax relief strategy will help lighten the financial burden of homeowners who are struggling with high prices fueled by inflation.”

Approved by DeKalb voters in 2017, EHOST I generated $738 million in property tax relief. In November 2023, over 76 percent of county voters approved the renewal of EHOST for six more years. The projected EHOST II property tax savings for homeowners is $1 billion over the next six years.

The current-year EHOST tax relief is shown on property owners’ 2024 DeKalb County Real Property Tax Statement, in the column titled “EHOST Credit.” The EHOST credit is not applied against taxes levied by DeKalb municipalities, school districts or tax allocation districts.