Posted Jan 20, 2018 by Martin Armstrong “IN ALL OF HISTORY, NO GOVERNMENT BECAME MORE HONEST, LESS CORRUPT OR RESPECTED ITS CITIZENS RIGHTS MORE AS IT GREW IN SIZE” Posted Jan 20, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

What image comes to your mind when you think of Savannah?

SAVANNAH

What image comes to your mind when you think of Tybee?

TYBEE

What image comes to your mind when you think of our Islands?

OUR ISLANDS

WHY DID YOU MOVE TO THE ISLANDS AND WHY DO YOU STAY HERE ON THE ISLANDS? Quality of Life! Less Crime – safe place to live Great Place for kids and grand children Convenience – located between downtown and the beach Less Traffic – away from the hubbub of the city Our beautiful waterways and marshes

Together we can build a better community and improve the quality of life on our islands.

CONSOLIDATION or INCORPORATION

What is consolidation When a state government combines all municipalities and Un- Incorporated areas of a county into 1 government and dissolve all municipal governments. Creating a new giant government.

The consolidation movement has begun: The Savannah Economic Development Authority and The Chamber of Commerce are pushing for funding of a feasibility study for the Consolidation of Un- Incorporated Chatham County and The City of Savannah through the state legislature

STATE PROPOSAL TO CONSOLIDATE To Combine UN-Incorporated Chatham County 99,000 People All Chatham Municipalities 46,500 People Total 145,000 People with the City of Savannah 147,000 People For one large government to represent Everyone within Chatham County

Why Combine Governments? MONEY and VOTES

MONEY and VOTES Our small percentage of votes will have little impact on what the new governments wants to do and may have a huge impact on our tax dollars.

County consists of 8 Incorporated Cities and Un–Incorporated Chatham County Each municipality will get a vote to consolidate

Percentage of the Population Present county government the Islands are 25% Proposed Consolidation the Islands are10% or Less

Do you receive 25% of the county’s attention or service? 25 PERCENT Islanders are 25% of the population and pay an estimated 25% of the property tax used for un-incorporated Chatham County services Do you receive 25% of the county’s attention or service?

If the Consolidation Vote Fails? You can bet your bottom Dollar it will come up again and again until it passes, just like: Macon Bibb Consolidation Voted 5 times Athens Clarke Consolidation Voted 4 times Richmond Augusta Voted numerous times Columbus Muskogee Voted numerous times

Options Wait and hope the consolidation vote fails and continues to fail Look to incorporate and stay independent of the consolidation, keeping our unique island lifestyle

What is incorporation? When an area/neighborhood votes to become independent and manage their taxes and services Can only happen in Un-Incorporated areas

ISLANDS ESTIMATED POPULATION of the ISLANDS Approximate Population 24,500 Talahi 1,250 1.3 Sq. Miles Wilmington 15,250 8.2 Sq. Miles Whitemarsh 6,500 5.6 Sq. Miles Other 1,500 (includes Oatland Island) Approximately 25 Percent of the population of Un Incorporated Chatham County lives on the Islands

Incorporation Percentage Incorporated into our own new city Islanders are100 % Keeping your tax dollars here in our community

How do we decide what to do? FUND THE FEASIBILITY STUDY DONATE FILL OUT THE LETTER TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES SIGN THE PETITION TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS NO STUDY = NO CHOICE

Feasibility Study The study is required by the State to see if the tax revenue is sufficient to operate as an independent city without raising taxes. The study is required by the state to be completed by the University of Georgia or Georgia State University. The study costs an estimated $30,000.

Feasibility Study The study, once funded, takes approximately 6 months to complete If we want to choose a different path from consolidation, we need to raise $30,000 as soon as possible

Present Taxes Presently your tax bill is divided into 4 funds: 1. County M&O (maintenance and operation) 11.543 Mils 2. County School Board 16.631 Mils County Special District Fund 4.130 Mils Chatham Area Transit 1.150 Mil.

Comparison Savannah Vs Chatham County Unincorporated County County Mils 11.543 School Mils 16.631 Transit Mils 1.150 SSD 4.130 Total Mils 33.454 County Mils 11.543 School Mils 16.631 Transit Mils 1.150 SSD .200 City 11.480 Total Mils 41.004

Together we can build a better community and improve the quality of life on our islands.

INCORPORATE Become a Independent City KEEPING OUR TAX DOLLARS LOCAL

Taxes for the New City If we Incorporated as a city, our city would operate and provide services by using the SPECIAL SERVICES DISTRICT FUND 4.130 Mils The County would still get its 11.543 Mils to operate and provide services. The School Board still gets it 16.631 Mils CAT still gets it 1.150 mil

Taxes for the New City There are numerous funding mechanisms that will provide income to support the city

Other Sources of Income Ad Valorem taxes Licenses and Permits Sales Tax L.O.S.T. Local Option Sales Tax S.P.L.O.S.T Special Local Option Sales Tax

Food For Thought

Special District Fund 2017 – 2018 County SSD tax revenue Approximately $34,000,000 Divided by 99,000 Unincorporated County Population is $343 per person 25,000 Island Residents = Approximately 8.5 million dollars

Skidaway Island Comparison Skidaway Island Revenue is estimated at 6 MILLION Dollars with approximately 6000 residents based on their state study

City of Pooler Comparison Pooler Population is approximately 22,000 Revenue for 2017 was about $20 Million Rated in the 40 Safest Cities in Georgia Estimated from 2017 Proposed Pooler Budget

Garden City Tax Revenue 2017 Tax Revenue – 9 Million Population Approximately - 8,800

Port Wentworth Tax Revenue 2016 Tax Revenue – 8.7 Million Population – Approximately 7,000 Rated #21 in the safest cities in Georgia

Thunderbolt Approximate Tax Revenue 3 Million Population – Approximately 2,800

2018 Revenue approximately 187 Million City of Savannah Approximately 147,000 people 2018 Revenue approximately 187 Million

Population and total tax revenue correlation Are you seeing a trend? Population and total tax revenue correlation 24,500 people – $ 24,500,000 Is It Possible?

WE WILL HAVE THE ANSWERS WHEN WE GET OUR FEASIBILITY STUDY!

NO STUDY NO CHOICE

MYTHS The three mile rule no longer applies. This was discarded in 2005 Being separated by waterways does not apply to the consolidation process.

OUR ISLANDS

Together we can build a better community and improve the quality of life on our islands.

NO STUDY = NO CHOICE FUND THE FEASIBILITY STUDY DONATE FILL OUT THE LETTER TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES SIGN THE PETITION TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS NO STUDY = NO CHOICE