Reduced taxes – Garden City does not collect city property taxes. Annexation by Garden City would thus eliminate for Southbridge property owners the Chatham County Special Service District property tax and would result in significant savings for each and every homeowner. In fact, annexation would translate into an annual savings of $556 for a Southbridge property valued at $400,000.
Sound financial management and progressive economic development policies have allowed Garden City to maintain the adequate revenue streams necessary for first-rate service delivery without the assessment of a City property tax. Having no property taxes would increase the marketability of for-sale properties within Southbridge because prospective homeowners would have the knowledge that they would not be subject to the high property tax rates that residents of other areas of Chatham County are required to pay.
|
|
Unincorporated County |
City of Savannah |
City of Pooler |
City of Garden City |
|
PROPERTY TAX RATES |
Millage Rate – 3.475
(Example: home valued at $400,000 would pay $556 annually in County Special Service District Taxes) |
Millage Rate – 12.5
(Example: home valued at $400,000 would pay $2,000 annually in City Property Taxes) |
Millage Rate – 4.5
(Example: home valued at $400,000 would pay $720 annually in City Property Taxes) |
Millage Rate – 0.0
(Example: home valued at $400,000 would pay $0 annually in City Property Taxes) |
Garden City also does not collect city motor vehicle taxes. If annexed by Garden City, Southbridge residents would thus see a reduction in their motor vehicle taxes.
|
|
Unincorporated County |
City of Savannah |
City of Pooler |
City of Garden City |
|
Motor Vehicle Tax Rates |
Millage Rate – 3.475
(Example: 2 vehicles valued at $30,000 would pay $42 annually in County Motor Vehicle Taxes) |
Millage Rate – 12.5
(Example: 2 vehicles valued at $30,000 would pay $150 annually in City Motor Vehicle Taxes) |
Millage Rate – 4.5
(Example: 2 vehicles valued at $30,000 would pay $54 annually in City Motor Vehicle Taxes) |
Millage Rate – 0.0
(Example: 2 vehicles valued at $30,000 would pay $0 annually in City Motor Vehicle Taxes) |
Since its incorporation in 1939, Garden City has NEVER crossed the threshold of assessing a property tax yet it has a long 70-year history of consistently providing a full slate of high-quality municipal services. This is possible due to a number of factors:
- Garden City has a very healthy occupational tax base and business licensing income due to Port-related business activity.
- Garden City takes a fee-based approach to revenue generation, with most service delivery areas having a dedicated revenue source through “user fees” which fund the service. Fees – as opposed to taxes – are the most equitable form of revenue generation because you only pay for the services that you actually use.
- Garden City has minimal street maintenance expenditures since most major thoroughfares are State Routes and thus maintained by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
- Garden City has very few costly capital assets.
- Garden City has a history of responsible fiscal management resulting in a lean, efficient organization.
The lack of property taxes in Garden City also eliminates any financial concern over the future of the Homeowner’s Tax Relief Grant (HTRG). This grant had given tax relief to homeowners in an amount up to $8,000 in assessed value for all homeowners who are receiving one of the normal homestead exemptions. For the 2009 tax year, the Georgia General Assembly and Governor did not fund the HTRG. Declining state revenue during the current recession means there is no money for the State to give the tax relief to homeowners. Therefore, there will not be a credit for this grant on 2009 tax bills for properties with homestead exemption. According to legislation passed in 2009 (House Bill 143), the grant will only be made available in the future if state revenues grow at least 3% plus the rate of inflation. As a result, many Chatham County homeowners will see a property tax increase of $200 to $300 on their 2009 tax bills. Garden City homeowners, however, will not see this increase since Garden City does not have property taxes.
Superior Police Protection – Garden City’s Police Department is both state certified and nationally accredited. Less than 35 law enforcement agencies out of more than 1,100 in the state of Georgia are both state certified and nationally accredited, putting the Garden City Police Department in the highest echelon of professionalism and public protection.
If annexed into Garden City, the Southbridge community would become a separate and defined police zone. Police coverage in this new “Southbridge Zone” would be 24/7 and consist of one police officer assigned to patrol this zone EXCLUSIVELY. In addition to the patrol officer, at least one pass-through of Southbridge would be conducted during each shift by the assistant shift supervisor, shift supervisor and the duty officer. This means that at any given time, between 1 and 4 police officers will be patrolling Southbridge, day and night, providing enhanced security. Plus, Garden City police officers have bicycle patrol capabilities, enabling officers to get out of their police car and to patrol the neighborhood on police-issued bicycles.
Since Garden City would provide 24/7 police protection at no cost to Southbridge residents, this increased police protection would result in an annual savings of about $130,000 in Southbridge HOA expenditures, which is currently incurred to pay for off-duty police protection. As a result, Southbridge homeowners could see a significant reduction in their HOA dues.
Annexation into Garden City would also ensure faster response times due to a close proximity of public safety assets to the Southbridge community. With Garden City Police Department resources now headquartered at the new Garden City Town Center, Garden City can provide more rapid response times to the Southbridge community than any other police department in the area.
|
|
Unincorporated County |
City of Savannah |
City of Pooler |
City of Garden City |
|
Closest Police Precinct to Southbridge |
Savannah-Chatham Metro Police:
3.3 miles |
Savannah-Chatham Metro Police:
3.3 miles |
Pooler Police:
6.8 miles |
Garden City Police:
1/8 mile |
Garden City would provide to Southbridge a Community Policing Officer, who would serve as a liaison between Southbridge residents and the Police Department. This officer would serve as a certified Neighborhood Watch coordinator and be available at all times for Southbridge HOA meetings or to teach Citizens Police Academy classes, self defense classes, crime prevention classes, hurricane awareness training or child safety seat instruction.
Garden City’s continued commitment to the comprehensive safety of its residents led to the recent creation of a
Commercial Vehicle Unit. This specialized unit, which is certified by the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, monitors truck traffic along Dean Forest Road, making sure that commercial loads are properly secured, drivers are properly certified and vehicles are properly maintained. This hands-on program ensures that commercial trucks do not put local residents in danger and helps make Garden City a safer place.
In an effort to build strong ties with young people, Garden City also offers a
Law Enforcement Enforcer Post which provides a leadership organization for kids ages 15-18 to participate in organized activities oriented towards a future career in law enforcement. This program could benefit teens in Southbridge and provide positive role models for young people with an interest in becoming a police officer.
Stronger Influence – With Garden City’s new
City Hall conveniently located directly across the street from Southbridge’s Dean Forest Road entrance, community residents could easily pay utility bills, attend City Council meetings and enjoy easy access to City officials. Garden City would put local government within reach of Southbridge residents.
Garden City is governed by a 7-member City Council elected from 5 City Council districts with a Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem elected at-large. Annexation of Southbridge would result in the re-drawing of the Garden City Council district map and result in the Southbridge community becoming a defined City Council district. As such, Southbridge residents would have at least one guaranteed and possibly as many as three representatives on a seven-member governing body. The bottom line is that Southbridge would become a stand- alone Council district with a guaranteed seat at the government table.
Plus, Southbridge residents would enjoy a superior councilmember-constituent ratio. Currently, Chatham County Commissioners each represent approximately 35,000 residents, which means that when it comes to representation, Southbridge is a small fish in a very big pond. If Southbridge were annexed into Garden City, the community would enjoy its own dedicated political representation, with one elected official representing all the roughly 4,000 residents of Southbridge. Instead of being a small fish in a very big pond, the Southbridge community would be a big fish in small pond.
Because Garden City also emphasizes transparency of governance at every turn, all City Council meetings can be watched on the Government Access Channels or via streaming video on the Garden City website. So, even if residents cannot attend City Council meetings at City Hall, they can watch the full meetings at their leisure, from the privacy of their own homes.
Enhanced Fire Protection – Annexation by Garden City would not initially change fire protection service in Southbridge, which is currently provided by Southside Fire Department. If annexed however, Southbridge residents would see enhanced fire protection benefits in a number of areas.
First, supplemental fire coverage would be provided by the Garden City Fire Department, which has an
excellent ISO rating of 3. Southside Fire Station #12 would continue to be located right outside the main Dean Forest Road entrance to Southbridge, whereas the supplemental fire coverage provided by Garden City Fire would respond from nearby Pineland Avenue when construction of Garden City Fire Station #3 is completed.
Secondly, Southbridge homeowners may see a reduction in their fire protection fees. Subject to the availability of funds, Garden City would look to partner with the Southside Fire Department and either subsidize all or a portion of the fire protection fees charged to Southbridge homeowners. This arrangement is currently in place between Garden City and Southside Fire Department for the Silk Hope area and if expanded to include Southbridge, would result in a decreased fire protection bill for every Southbridge homeowner.
Better Public Works – Should Southbridge be annexed, the Garden City Public Works Department would assume maintenance of all public streets, public street lighting, street sweeping services and right-of-way litter control within the Southbridge community at no cost to residents. Additionally, Garden City has a comprehensive drainage maintenance program with its own dedicated revenue source that would ensure the public street and drainage system is maintained at a higher level than what is currently provided. Garden City officials realize that drainage has been a problem in Southbridge in the past and are committed to ensuring that residents enjoy superior drainage services.
Additionally, Garden City currently offers a successful and convenient
curbside recycling program which provides weekly household waste and single-stream curbside recycling pickup for only $16.15 per month. Furthermore, a monthly yard debris and dry trash pickup is currently provided by Garden City at no additional charge.
Improved Quality of Life – One of Garden City’s highest priorities is to work with residents and businesses to preserve and maintain the livability, values and integrity of our neighborhoods and communities. With this goal in mind, Garden City Code Enforcement personnel are continually joining forces with homeowners associations, community organizations and neighborhood groups to work together to eliminate those situations that could lead to unsightly and decaying conditions. A strong Code Enforcement program has been shown to increase neighborhood livability, reduce crime and improve property values. If annexed into Garden City, Southbridge would benefit from such a program.
With the close proximity of Garden City Hall to Southbridge, code enforcement officers would be close at hand to assist in protecting the quality of life for residents of Southbridge and ensuring that the Southbridge community retains its family-friendly residential character.
Southbridge residents would also be entitled to the use of all recreational facilities within Garden City and to participate in all the recreational programs organized by the Garden City Recreation Department. Programs include summer camp, T-ball, softball and baseball, soccer, football, basketball and cheerleading. Garden City is also exploring the possibility of constructing a new baseball/soccer complex near the new Garden City Town Center on Dean Forest Road across from Southbridge.
LEADERSHIP WITH INTEGRITY This award-winning West Chatham municipality is defined by leadership with integrity. In fact, Garden City has already kept a number of promises to Southbridge residents including installing a traffic signal at the Dean Forest Road and Southbridge Boulevard intersection, prohibiting fast food/gas station outparcels at the Garden City Town Center, reducing the size of the Food Lion at the Garden City Town Center and re-zoning property in Garden City south of I-16 to ensure that industrial development is restricted. Plus, City Manager
Brian Johnson has voluntarily made numerous presentations to the Southbridge HOA to keep residents informed about progress at the Garden City Town Center and surrounding area.