Savannah Standard

The City of Savannah will consider adopting a 2024 millage rate of 12.2 mills, which remains unchanged from the 2023 adopted millage rate and aligns with the City's 2024 budget plan. Maintaining this rate would keep property taxes at their lowest level since 1987.

In compliance with state law, this notice informs that the Mayor and Aldermen of Savannah are considering a millage rate that would result in a 9.00 percent increase in property taxes over the rollback millage rate for properties that have increased in valuation without obtaining a Stephens-Day exemption. This increase mirrors the tax rate adopted in 2023.

According to Georgia law, when preparing the total digest of taxable property, a rollback millage rate must be calculated to generate the same revenue as last year’s rate, assuming no reassessments occurred. The proposed millage rate of 12.2 mills represents an increase of 1.004 mills over the rollback millage rate of 11.196 mills. For homes without a Stephens-Day exemption valued at $100,000, this equates to an approximate tax increase of $40.16; for properties valued at $500,000, it is approximately $200.80.

Georgia law mandates advertising the 12.2 mills as a tax "increase" because it exceeds the rollback rate even though it remains unchanged from last year’s figure.

Should the city council decide to adopt this rate, three public hearings are required by Georgia law to allow citizens to voice their opinions on this increase over the rollback rate.

Public hearings will be held at City Hall, located at 2 E. Bay St., on July 11 at both 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and on July 25 at 2:00 p.m.

Interested parties can submit written comments to ClerkofCouncil@savannahga.gov or call (912) 651-6441 to share their views directly with City Council members before these meetings.