Skidaway Island incorporation legislation introduced (Savannah, Pooler: construction, gated, incomes)

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by toscgwsndiqz

The Balkanization of the State of Chatham. Warring City-states that would rather destroy each other than see the other prosper....

Warring city-states who want to push all of the issues of region onto the only city in the area. With wealthy people walling themselves off from city taxes, the residents have basically turned their backs on the city where a majority of them make their living. This has been going on since the Eisenhower freeway system was developed. It turned social issues into a tax issue & let a large number of americans flee from their responsibility to their fellow citizens.

[Airforceguy]

The cityhood bill passed both the house and senate, now it's up to the voters....

A bill hoping to make Skidaway Island its own city has passed both the Georgia House and the Senate.

Right now Skidaway Island is part of the unincorporated Chatham County area.

If Skidaway Island becomes a city, they will have to find a city manager and elect a mayor and city council.

They would also have to provide insurance to their police officers and city employees.

5 study committees have agreed that making Skidaway Island a city is financially feasible.

Now the bill is back in the house waiting to make its way to the governor’s desk.

The Landing’s Association, which represents the private neighborhood on Skidaway Island, issued this statement on their website on Thursday of this week.

Bill to make Skidaway Island a city passes Georgia House and Senate

[Airforceguy]

Gov. Kemp signed the bill this morning and the election will be held March 19th.

Legislation authorizing a referendum on whether to incorporate Skidaway Island was signed Friday morning by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, according to Rep. Jesse Petrea, R-Savannah.

The referendum that gives Skidaway residents a chance to support or oppose the formation of their own city is set to be held March 19.

The legislation was approved following The Landings Association board’s recent approval of a resolution supporting incorporation. The board reported improved representation and services, along with lower property tax rates, as reasons for their support.

https://www.savannahnow.com/news/201...orgia-gov-kemp

[GA Survivor]

I am guessing it will be 63% for/37% against.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by GA Survivor

I am guessing it will be 63% for/37% against.

What makes you come to that conclusion?

My hope is it’ll be the opposite.

[GA Survivor]

The numbers are purely a guess but Skidaway has been working on this for a while. I believe they will have good support for it. Why would you want it to fail? The state of the county and city of Savannah governments is what is creating the issues that are forcing additional City creations.By incorporating they will actually see a reduction in their tax rate. It's crazy that by adding an additional layer of government, you can reduce your taxes. Chatham needs to take a hard look at where the money is going and why it is cheaper to create another government.

[Airforceguy]

Looks like more people are coming out against incorporation...

“The Home Builders Association of Greater Savannah is opposed to the current effort to incorporate Skidaway Island. The creation of a new city brings with it the creation of new land use regulations, new levels of regulatory oversight, and thus increases the costs of new homes. At the same time, the additional direct costs of new taxation to provide the inevitable increase in services also adds significantly to the cost of homeownership. We feel strongly that the current stable governance structure in Chatham County works well and affords a well understood and predictable regulatory environment to allow managed growth to meet the needs of all current and future residents.”

Government lobbyists, and residents of The Landings at Skidaway Island, Mike and Jean Vaquer have been leading an effort to encourage residents to oppose the incorporation. A well-attended meeting at a local church on Monday evening had a crowd that appeared to have many questions, with a sense of the audience that there was not support for incorporation.

Opponents allege that The Landings Association on Skidaway Islad embarked down the incorporation path without first seeking a vote from the property owners of The Landings, or the other residents on the entire island, including Modena and other residential communities.

https://www.savannahbusinessjournal....ay-island.html

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

Looks like more people are coming out against incorporation...

https://www.savannahbusinessjournal....ay-island.html

Good. I’m glad some people have enough sense to realize this is a bad idea.

[Airforceguy]

On a similar note, tempers also flared in an open forum discussing incorporating Wilmington, Whitemarsh, Talahi and Oatland Islands. I'm some people are starting to figure out that while it may be feasible to create these new cities, its not fiscally wise to do so considering that the islands, unlike Pooler, don't have the commercial base to support city services without raising taxes.

Those against incorporation say a new city is feasible, but not fiscal. "We are just a residential community and we need commercial properties to really build up the surplus. And we just don't have that," said Marianne Heimes.

Unlike Pooler, the islands have three grocery stores, and 'mom and pop' restaurants and stores. "The numbers just don't seem to add up," said Heimes.

Others against incorporation say that's especially true if the islands create a new fire department. Chatham Emergency Services (CES) CEO Chuck Kearns says a new department requires new fire stations, new ladder trucks and new engines designed to help areas without hydrants.

He says that's expensive and would increase insurance rates. "What I want to do is lay out facts...There's no better expert on subject matter than me," said Kearns.

State Representative Petrea says people are more interested in this issue than any other. He's not taking a side yet. Instead, he says it's up to the people.

https://www.wsav.com/news/local-news...nty/1838988261

[SavannahLife]

Interesting, I just read about commercial and property tax. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/06/b...rk-stores.html https://www.citylab.com/equity/2018/...almart/574123/ I wonder if this applies to Georgia? But yes... true about the economics. I have a feeling there won't be Wilmington etc incorporated for this reason mainly when people run the numbers. Maybe Skidaway. At least they have the extra $$ and maybe they want to spend it on having their own city, as is their right.