Savannah residents may soon have a say in whether the city keeps protections under its local property tax exemption or moves forward with a new statewide cap voters approved last year.
🌟 What’s Happening: The City of Savannah is planning three public hearings in February to discuss opting out of Georgia State House Bill 581, which establishes a statewide homestead exemption. The law, approved by voters in 2024, is designed to cap property taxes for homeowners statewide.
However, Savannah officials argue the exemption could lead to higher taxes for those benefiting from the Stephens Day Homestead Exemption, which they say provides more significant tax relief than the new law.
🏛️ Who Made It Happen: HB 581 was passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2024 and signed into law by Governor Kemp on April 18, 2024. Voters later approved the measure in a statewide referendum. Now, local governments like Savannah have the option to opt out, following specific constitutional guidelines requiring public hearings and formal resolutions.
House Bill 581 caps property tax increases to the rate of inflation, so your property taxes cannot go up more than the inflation rate in any given year.
⚠️ Why It Matters: City officials warn that opting into HB 581 could raise taxes for Savannah homeowners who currently enjoy the Stephens Day exemption. The local exemption currently offers lower rates than the new statewide cap, meaning those affected could face unexpected tax increases.
🗳️ What Voters Decided: In the 2024 referendum, Georgia voters supported HB 581’s property tax cap. However, Savannah’s move to opt out shows a potential conflict between the priorities of the city leaders and city residents.
đź“… When and Where: Public hearings are set for February 4 at 10 a.m., February 13 at 2 p.m., and February 13 at 6 p.m. All hearings will be held at the Eli Whitney Administrative Complex on Laura Avenue.
📬 Take Action: Residents are encouraged to attend the hearings, voice their opinions, and learn more about how opting out could affect their property taxes. The city must finalize its decision and file a resolution with the Secretary of State by March 1.
đź“ž Contact for More Info: For questions or interview requests, contact Press Secretary Joshua Peacock at 912-525-3271 or Interim Chief of Public Affairs Joseph Shearouse at opc@savannahga.gov.
In The Know: While much attention is given to national politics and the workings of Congress and the White House, local government meetings are where the decisions that impact your daily life are made. City Council, County Commission, School Board Meetings, and Town Halls are where your elected leaders discuss and decide the issues that most effect your family and your community. These meetings are open to the public.
Each week, The Georgia Sun highlights some of the meetings and local government actions you need to know about in your community to keep you informed and to make sure you know what decisions your elected officials are considering and how your tax dollars are being spent.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
