By Eric Curl
June 29, 2025 – The new year is coming, in the fiscal sense that is. To mark the occasion, the local governing bodies are adopting annual budgets that begin in July. That means adopting property tax rates – some higher, some lower – in order to fund services and capital projects we can all enjoy or complain about. Read all about those plans below, along with some other actions – and inactions – our elected and appointed officials took last week.
Savannah City Council
On Thursday, the Savannah City Council held a first reading of a proposed millage rate, which the city manager is recommending be rolled back for property owners after the tax digest grew by 8.8%, with more than half coming from new growth. A second reading to adopt the reduced tax rate is scheduled for July 10.
The city council also approved a new strategic plan, the “Savannah GPS”, in addition to a special-use permit for a wine bar and retail shop at 508 East Broughton St.
Related: A Family Affair – Wine Store, Bar with Argentinian Roots Proposed for East Broughton>
Property Matters
In addition, the council approved a petition to rezone a Thomas Square home at 101 East 34th St. from Traditional Neighborhood to Traditional Commercial. The change will allow for an off-site event venue for the restaurant Ardsley Station, according to the application.
At the recommendation of Alderwoman Bernetta Lanier, the city council approved a master plan amendment of 9.8 acres for the Highlands Park-Godley Station planned development to establish a multifamily-residential use that would allow the construction of up to 225 dwelling units. Lanier, who had originally opposed the amendment, said she can now “live with” the plan, because the pending SPLOST referendum is expected to include area road widening projects that should help address residents’ concerns about traffic, and the developer is planning recreational and retail projects at the community’s request.
Addressing Homelessness
The city council postponed for two weeks approval of a $273,715 contract for street outreach and transportation services for homeless individuals. The postponement came at the request of Alderwoman Linda Wilder-Bryan, who raised concerns about the proposed hours and lack of outreach on Sundays not meeting the needs of the people they are seeking to assist.
The council did approve a $97,678 contract with Union Mission for extended intake hours for emergency shelter for homeless individuals.
Both contracts were presented following the recent adoption of an ordinance that bans “urban camping” in public spaces. Since then, the city has been receiving several requests for “immediate action” from citizens reporting alleged incidents, as previously reported.
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Chatham County Commission
After hearing some residential opposition and alternative funding plans proposed by two commissioners, the Chatham County Commission chose by a 5-4 vote Friday to support the fire department with a roughly 2 mill increase on the Special Service District (unincorporated county), as reported by Savannah Morning News.
The commission also approved the county projects for the upcoming Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum on Nov. 4. There wasn’t any discussion during the meeting, but afterwards Commissioner Aaron “Adot” Whitely highlighted some of the projects in a Facebook video, including the elimination of the railroad crossing on President Street.
“For any of you who’ve been running late to something downtown and got caught by that train, you might appreciate that,” he said.
Chatham Area Transit
Chatham Area Transit scheduled and then canceled a special called board meeting on Friday after the board removed its interim CEO and failed to pass its 2026 fiscal year budget on Tuesday. The board is now scheduled to hold a special called meeting at 4 p.m. on Monday to consider the adoption of the budget, according to a notice sent Sunday morning.
CAT board members, along with Chatham County officials, are awaiting a judge’s decision concerning its legal challenge to a new state law that removes the board members from their positions and changes how the board is chosen. The judge’s ruling is expected to be issued Monday.
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