The Savannah City Council discussed the proposed property tax rate of 11.749 mills, which is higher than the rollback rate of 11.402 mills. This will result in a 3% increase over the rollback rate for property owners whose assessed values increased and are not protected by the Stephens Day exemption. Three public hearings are scheduled for residents to provide comments.
Savannah City Council members. Van R. Johnson II, Mayor. Carol Bell, Post 1 at Large. Alicia Miller-Blakely, Post 2 at Large. Bernetta B. Lanier, District 1. Dietrich Leggett, District 2. Linda Wilder Bryan, District 3. Nick Palumbo, District 4. Dr. Estella Edwards-Shabazz, District 5. Curtis Pertee, District 6.
26 the rollback rate is 11.4 0, 2 mills because the proposed property rate is 11.7 49 mills and is higher than the rollback rate of 11.4 0, 2 bills. The Georgia law requires that the city advertise it as a property tax increase, although everyone in the world knows it's not, although it makes absolutely no sense. And the millage rate is not changing from last year. We are proposing it for it to be 11.749, which it was last year when we adopted the rollback rate. FOR PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ASSESS VALUES INCREASED WHO ARE NOT PROTECTED BY THE STEPHENS DAY EXEMPTION, MAINTAINING THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE REPRESENTS A 3% INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE OWNER OF A HOME WITH A FAIR MARKET VALUE OF $375,000 THAT DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE STEPHENS DAY EXEMPTION WILL PAY ABOUT $52.05 MORE PER YEAR. State law also requires that there are three public hearings before the city can adopt a millage rate above the rollback rate, keeping in mind we're adopting the same rate that we adopted last year. Those hearings give residents the opportunity to share their comments before mayor and alderman take action. The public hearing schedule is as follows. Today at 6 o'clock p.m., Thursday, August the 13th, 2026 at 11 o'clock a.m. And on the same day, Thursday, April the 13th, I mean August the 13th, 2026 at 2 p.m. ALL OF THE HEARINGS WILL BE HELD HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT THE SAVANNAH CITY HALL TO EAST BAY STREET. RESIDENTS MAY PROVIDE COMMENTS BY SPEAKING IN PERSON IN ONE OF OUR HEARINGS OR SUBMITTING WRITTEN COMMENTS TO MARK MASSIE AT CLERK OF COUNCIL AT SAVANNAHGA.GOV CLERK OF COUNCIL ONE WORD AT SAVANNAHGA.GOV OR BY CALLING AT 912-651-6441. 912-651-6441. 912-651-6441. 912-651-6441. WRITTEN COMMENTS BECOME A PART OF WRITTEN COMMENTS BECOME A PART OF WRITTEN COMMENTS BECOME A PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD AND SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC RECORD AND SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC RECORD AND SHARED WITH THE MAYOR AND ALDERMAN BEFORE THE MAYOR AND ALDERMAN BEFORE THE MAYOR AND ALDERMAN BEFORE THE MEETING. MEETING. MEETING. FOLLOWING THE REQUIRED PUBLIC FOLLOWING THE REQUIRED PUBLIC FOLLOWING THE REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS, THE MAYOR AND HEARINGS, THE MAYOR AND HEARINGS, THE MAYOR AND ALDERMAN WILL CONSIDER ADOPTING ALDERMAN WILL CONSIDER ADOPTING ALDERMAN WILL CONSID um the millage rate that is being proposed going once going twice speak now forever hold your peace mr mayor mr mayor actually we closed it here second properly moved and seconded all in favor indicate by saying aye aye opposed god bless you good night
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