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July 23, 2020 City Council Meeting
Title
26. Approval to Amend the 2020 Revenue Ordinance, Adopt the 2020 Property Tax Millage Rate, and Adopt the Special Service District Tax Rate for the Water Transportation District
Strategic Priority
Good Government
Description

The Board of Assessors recently released the 2020 Tax Digest, which indicated a 2.92% overall increase in property assessments (net digest) throughout the City of Savannah. State Law requires taxing entities that experience an increase in tax digest to calculate a “rollback rate,” which is a millage rate that will generate the same amount of revenue as the previous year’s millage rate minus new construction or annexation. Due to the higher Tax Digest, the City’s rollback rate for 2020 is 12.739 mills. At the July 9, 2020 City Council Workshop, City Council directed staff to prepare millage advertisements and documentation proposing the adoption of the rollback rate of 12.856. The proposed millage rate is equal to the 2019 millage rate, which was set at 12.856 mills. The chart below shows Savannah’s millage rate since 1971.

While this ordinance indicates a rate of 12.856 mills, Council is continuing to consider the rollback rate of 12.739 simultaneously. Members of the public are invited to attend three public hearings where public comment will be heard regarding the millage rate. These public hearings will held at City Hall on July 30th at 6 pm, and on August 13th at 10 am and 2 pm. Members of the public may also submit public comment electronically to clerkofcouncil@savannahga.gov.

YEAR

MILLAGE

YEAR

MILLAGE

YEAR

MILLAGE

YEAR

MILLAGE

1971

26.00

1984

9.00

1997

17.46

2010

13.00

1972

30.00

1985

9.00

1998

16.93

2011

12.50

1973

28.00

1986

9.00

1999

16.50

2012

12.50

1974

28.00

1987

11.30

2000

14.80

2013

12.48

1975

27.00

1988

13.30

2001

13.70

2014

12.48

1976

27.00

1989

13.30

2002

13.70

2015

12.48

1977

9.00

1990

13.30

2003

13.30

2016

12.48

1978

9.00

1991

14.30

2004

13.10

2017

12.48

1979

8.50

1992

14.30

2005

12.90

2018

13.40

1980

8.50

1993

15.90

2006

12.70

2019

12.856

1981

8.50

1994

17.46

2007

12.50

2020

12.856

1982

8.50

1995

17.46

2008

12.50

 

 

1983

8.50

1996

17.46

2009

12.50

 

 

 

It is proposed that City Council amend the Revenue Ordinance of 2020; adopt a tax rate on real and personal property of 12.856 mills on the dollar (0.012856) or $12.86 per $1,000 in assessed value; and adopt a special service district tax rate for the Water Transportation District of .200 mills on the dollar (.0002) or $0.20 per $1,000 in assessed value.

Recommendation

Approval

Contact
Ashley Simpson, Revenue Director
Financial Impact
Revenue of $67,942,938
Review Comments
Attachments
Exhibit 1: Ordinance - Property Tax Rates.pdf
Agenda Plus