Fulton County voters will get to decide in November whether to expand the so-called Freeport Exemption – an exemption to paying county ad valorem or property taxes on inventory – to distribution centers of businesses that sell goods online.

The Fulton Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved a resolution to place the referendum question on the Nov. 8 ballot. The measure is intended to encourage e-commerce concerns to locate in Fulton, officials said.

The action was made possible by House Bill 935, passed by the General Assembly this spring, allowing county referendums on the Freeport Exemption. Fulton’s resolution was sponsored by Vice Chairman Liz Hausmann, with co-sponsors Chairman John Eaves and Commissioner Bob Ellis.

Calling the exemption an “important economic development incentive,” Hausmann said the county aims “to remain competitive in attracting logistics and e-commerce businesses that bring jobs to our community.”

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A native of Columbus and a fine arts graduate of Clark Atlanta, Amy Sherald was chosen as the official portrait artist of former first lady Michelle Obama. On the same week that the portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, it was also announced that Sherald was awarded the High Museum's 2018 David C. Driskell Prize. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Credit: Andrew Harnik