HomeMy Public PortalAbout19680320SCMeeting170
Richard Grosse recommended cutting off the tops of the old jetties
to beach level between 6th and 7th streets when tide is low - also
that the Town employ a Recreation Director for the season, referred
to Councilman Hohenstein.
Crluncilman Fleetwood informed Council that the 1968 Budget must be
ready beofre May ), 1968 - he asked the Committee Chairmen to get
theirs in.
Councilman Fleetwood read a paper re.ative to assessments, taxes,
ect., to clear up any misunderstanding - Councilman Counihanaatated
that he is opposed to the S.B.Camp Site - Councilman Hohenstein
stated that he wanted families to use - Councilman Daniels stated
that Councilman Fleetwood should not have introduced it - Councilman
Counihan Moved that it be deleted from the minutes - Councilman
Daniels seconded, stating that it has nothing to do with
business - those voting YES Counihan, Daniels, Cary
NO Fleetwood, Davis, Hohenstein, resulting
in a tie - The Mayor voted NO (this paper is on the following pages).
Councilman Daniels moved that the Fire Dept be reimbursed $300.00
for gear purchased for the Fire Dept. - Councilman Counihan seconded,
those voting YES - Fleetwood, Counihan, Daniels, Davis, Hohenstein -
abstained Cary, stating that this was not brought to the attention
of the Fire Committee - Councilman 'Davis asked about for the Fire
Dept.
Councilman Hohenstein moved that in the interest of peace and
harmony that the meeting be adjourned to a later date - Councilman
Daniels seconded, those voting YES - Daniels,Hohenstein, those
voting NO - Fleetwood - Davis, resulting in a tie - the Mayor
voted YES * abst &.ng Counihan, Cary.
.Savannah Beach, Ga.
March 20, 1968.
A special meeting of Town Council was held today and was attended by
Mayor Brown, who presided, and Councilmen Fleetwood, Counihan,
Cary, Daniels, Davis, Hohenstein, Town Attorney Solms.
The meeting was called for the purpose of appointing managers
for the election for Mayor and Councilmen of Savannah Beach, to
• be held Monday, April 1, 1968, in the Town Hall, Savannah Beaeh,Ga.
Councilman Dahiels moved that the following managers and clerks
be appointed to serve in the election for Mayor and Councilmen of
Savannah Beach, to be held Monday, April 1, 1968 - Councilman Cary
seconded, the motion passed: Miss Kathryn I.Flowers - Mrs. Ethel
Chandler - Mrs. Carolyn Golden - James M.Cargillk, Jr., -
Mrs. Olivia Pagan - Mrs. Ruby Brantley.
There being n• rther biusiness Council adjourned sunject to the
all o ' the
ler. of Counci
Mayor.
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Recently, a taxpayers association was formed at Savannah Beach, advocating reduction
of the Town assessed values from 100% of Fair Market Value to 40% of Fair Market Value.
Had these good citizens taken the time to read the Town minutes and examine the Town
budget, it would have been obvious that they should understand the actions of Council.
The matter of the reappraisal of Savannah Beach property was discussed, according to
the minutes, on March 16, 1966, June 15, 1966, July 20, 1966, July 21, 1966, December 21,1966,
and finally, after a committee, appointed by Council, had a meeting in conjunction with
the Town auditor, on February.15, 1967, it was unanimously agreed to accept the Chatham
County appraisal of property and use the Chatham County valuations for tax assessment,
working with the finance committee to handle any appeals as to inequities.
Savannah Beach taxes and digest had not been revised since 1948, when a millage of 22. -22
per $1,000 of valuation was set. Previous to that, we had been on a 50% to value assessment
and had never been on a 40% to value assessment.
Outmoded valuation of property by people who were not familiar with values was discarded
in an effort to make all taxable property appraisals by experts and to a common standard
of valuation. The County values were set in 1964, and Savannah Beach waited for 3 years
before accepting these values, which means that most of the values of Savannah Beach
property are now set on 1964 values, which would have increased substantially in the past
4 years. The main reason we waited for 3 years to accept the County values (which,
incidentally are being used by Savannah and Port Wentworth), was that we feel that any
inequities would have been adjusted by the County within that time. Even so, we received
protests from less than 10% of our taxpayers, and these were referred to the assessment
committee and have been adjusted in accordance with the fair market value of the property.
In making the change to the County appraisals, photos of the area were taken by air,
and measurements and calculations made by trained appraisers, and a substantial amount
of property was picked up which had not been on our tax rolls at fair market value.
In addition, we were able to set values in accordance with sales and purchases of property.
Town Council then set the millage, by unanimous approval, for the year 1967, at 12 mills
or $12.00 per $1,000 in the Council meeting on April 19, 1967. We refer the public to
Section 1, Code 92 -5702 of the Georgia Code, which has been amended in 1968 under Code
section 2, 92 -5703 (which excludes municipalities from the 40% State law).
As of 1968, the Town of Savannah Beach has a digest of $10,363,005. This excludes utilities,
which are appraised by State authorities. By reducing the millage to 12, we collected for
1967 -68, substantially the same amount of taxes, plus normal increase due to new building
and re- evaluation, as we did in 1966 -67. All owners of cars residing at Savannah Beach,
received a tax reduction due to the reduction in millage, and also personal property
taxes were reduced.
We are unable toy understand the mumbo -jumbo approach in telling the public that the
assessments are to be reduced to 40% with no mention of a correspondingc:.change in millage,
which would necessitate a change to 30 mills (the limit set by Charter) in order to obtain
the necessary taxes. Should this much millage be set, it would be necessary to segregate
the accounts and amounts, and the funds could be spent only for these accounts.
We are faced with the problem of capital improvements, and have spent, since 1962, over
$260,000 for capital improvements without raising the taxes of Savannah Beach residents
proportionately. There are less than 1,500 tax accounts, and promises of 500 new accounts
by 1970 to bring in $65,000 in revenue, would necessitate the building of more houses than
we have lots on which to put them.
The Town needs every penny of revenue it can obtain, and it is not the intention of
the present council to raise taxes. We shall recommend a millage of 12 for the year
1968 -69.
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If the members of Council had adhered to the budget originally planned, we would have
had a larger surplus than we do at the present time, but we still have a surplus,
Our expenditures during the year are up 15% for General Government, 19% for the Police
Department, 14% for Public Works, 14% for Sanitation, 12% for the Meter Department,
28% for the Sewer Dept., 42% for the Fire Dept. and 9% for the Museum, over last year.
Other departments decreased slightly. Over 85% of advalorem taxes have been collected,
and our delinquent tax accounts are the smallest in years.
To date, we have collected $234,354.40 in general revenue, including advalorem taxes.
We have disbursed $157,957.45 to run the various governmental departments. We have
paid $12,377.21 on the Town's bonded indebtedness, made $43,234.35 in capital improvements,
consisting of $15083 for street paving, $5,674.70 for sewers, $7,641.14 public works
improvements, and $11,466.25 for the Savannah Beach family camp grounds. As of this
date, we have spent $20,766.39 less than we have collected.
We are not in dire financial condition, and it is not the intent of Council to minimize
the effect of sewers and pollution control on our finances. We have discussed the
combining of the Water and Sewer departments, since this is the practice used by most
cities, and we hope to obtain sufficient Federal and State funds to minimize the
cost of the expenditures to our taxpayers.
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