Despite record-high tourism, record-high port activity, and a frenzy of development in some areas, City Council was warned in a workshop last week that “The revenue base is not growing as fast as the expenditure base.”
Fire Fee
Posted inNews
Big spending increases fueled the Fire Fee
Regardless of the Fire Fee’s fate, let’s take a better look at how the City got into this ‘no win’ situation.
Posted inCommunity
Fire Fee: Don’t shoot the messenger
Sprawl is out there. Sprawl that has been annexed. Sprawl that must be provided infrastructure and services and then maintained. This is why we have a persistent and growing budget imbalance.
Posted inCommunity
Reader feedback: Is the Savannah Fire Fee a boondoggle? Was Flannery O’Connor a racist?
Savannah’s new Fire Fee: Burden, boondoggle or both? Editor, I want to bring to the attention of Savannah citizens some clear and simple facts concerning the impact of the fire […]
Posted inCommunity
Editor’s Note: Fire Fee blaze threatens incumbents
Mayor DeLoach’s success in 2015 was largely due to very high turnout in District 4, the area south of Victory Drive including Ardsley Park, which also elected Julian Miller as its representative in a blowout. DeLoach and Miller are arguably the Council members most supportive of the Fire Fee. And who are some of the voters now most upset by the Fire Fee? You guessed it.
Posted inCommunity
Editor’s Note: Fire Fee = Tax cut for the wealthy?
Because the City bundled the Fire Fee with a one-mill rollback of property tax—equal to roughly eight percent — some affluent homeowners will actually get a tax cut out of the whole deal. While, you guessed it, those closer to the bottom will carry even more of the burden.
Posted inCommunity
Editor’s Note: Inside Savannah’s sausage factory
One concerning new item came up suddenly: A proposal for the City to partner with Savannah/Chatham County Public Schools on a new program for 3-5 year olds, to the tune of about $2 million in previously unbudgeted City funding.