GMA's Cities of Ethics program is not in any way approval of past or present conduct by the city or any city official.  Instead, it is an attempt to raise awareness about ethics issues at the local level and provide a local forum for the airing and resolution of legitimate concerns.  The use of a local ethics ordinance allows citizens to raise their concerns and participate in the ethics investigation process at the local level, where the voice and influence of the individual citizen is strongest.

To earn a "Certified City of Ethics" designation, the City of Savannah had to take two actions.

1. Adopt a resolution establishing the five ethics principles for the conduct of your city's officials.
2. Adopt an ethics ordinance that meets minimum standards approved by the GMA Board.

In 2015, and again on June 6, 2019, the majority of the Mayor and Aldermen signed such a resolution.  In addition, in April of 2005 the City Council adopted the attached Code of Ethics Ordinance.
The following principles are designed to guide our elected officials as individuals and as a governing body. These principles are: 

• Serve others, not ourselves
• Use resources with efficiency and economy
• Treat all people fairly
• Use the power of our position for the well being of our constituents
• Create an environment of honesty, openness and integrity

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