Skidaway Island incorporation legislation introduced

[GA Survivor]

Looks like they will stay unincorporated. Currently, 63/37 against with about 5800 votes counted.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by GA Survivor

Looks like they will stay unincorporated. Currently, 63/37 against with about 5800 votes counted.

Hallelujah! I knew they had some sense over there.

[masonbauknight]

I'm stunned by the vote. While I don't think Savannah-Chatham consolidation will ever happen, it's impressive that Skidaway Island -- wealthiest enclave in unincorporated Chatham and the one that probably can afford municipal status -- has soundly rejected incorporation (63% vs. 37% is pretty decisive). It's also the nail in the coffin for similar moves in the other islands and Georgetown.

I still remain wary of dirty deals elsewhere, like sleazy business interests trying to de-annex Hutchinson Island from the City of Savannah, and slippery li'l ole Pooler attempting to annex distant populated areas, even Georgetown. All of that is possible in the State of Chatham.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

I'm stunned by the vote. While I don't think Savannah-Chatham consolidation will ever happen, it's impressive that Skidaway Island -- wealthiest enclave in unincorporated Chatham and the one that probably can afford municipal status -- has soundly rejected incorporation (63% vs. 37% is pretty decisive). It's also the nail in the coffin for similar moves in the other islands and Georgetown.

I still remain wary of dirty deals elsewhere, like sleazy business interests trying to de-annex Hutchinson Island from the City of Savannah, and slippery li'l ole Pooler attempting to annex distant populated areas, even Georgetown. All of that is possible in the State of Chatham.

They don’t have the commercial or industrial base they need to become a viable incorporated town. I’m glad the voters came to their senses and saw that. Without it, they’d be paying much more in the long run.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

I'm stunned by the vote. While I don't think Savannah-Chatham consolidation will ever happen, it's impressive that Skidaway Island -- wealthiest enclave in unincorporated Chatham and the one that probably can afford municipal status -- has soundly rejected incorporation (63% vs. 37% is pretty decisive). It's also the nail in the coffin for similar moves in the other islands and Georgetown.

I still remain wary of dirty deals elsewhere, like sleazy business interests trying to de-annex Hutchinson Island from the City of Savannah, and slippery li'l ole Pooler attempting to annex distant populated areas, even Georgetown. All of that is possible in the State of Chatham.

You’ve got it all wrong. Skidaway Island is in fact the one area of Chatham County that can LEAST afford municipal status. The island is primarily low-density residential with only a very small commercial tax base and ZERO industrial tax base. On top of that, the housing stock at the Landings is old and slow to appreciate. This means that, barring a bunch of new residential and or higher density construction (which isn’t likely to happen), the tax base has pretty much been maximized its potential. It’s hard enough for any city to function primarily on residential property taxes. It’s impossible when that source of revenue shows no potntial for regular sustained growth.

Incorporating Skidaway was a bad idea from the start, based on flawed data and false premise. Fortunately there’s enough smart voters who recognized this.

The other islands — Wilmington, Whitemarsh and Talhi — don’t have this problem. Combined they have large commercial / retail components, a healthy mix of residential options and perhaps most importantly growth potential (though space on the islands is also becoming premium). An annexation vote for the islands has a better chance at passing, but would still be a bad idea with no clear benefit/

[masonbauknight]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

The other islands — Wilmington, Whitemarsh and Talhi — don’t have this problem. Combined they have large commercial / retail components, a healthy mix of residential options and perhaps most importantly growth potential (though space on the islands is also becoming premium). An annexation vote for the islands has a better chance at passing, but would still be a bad idea with no clear benefit/

The entire impetus for this referendum was fear of consolidation with Savannah. That's also what brought the activist yahoos out to the community meetings on Wilmington, and you know it. Second, the incorporation of wealthy, segregated white enclaves with no real commercial base is not uncommon in the U.S. These communities can afford higher taxes, and if (or when) a higher tax burden occurs, they will shoulder it to avoid a merger. They know they won't have to consolidate, ever.

The area where you live is also scared to death of consolidation or annexation by Savannah. I've read letters to the editor and BTL comments from Pooler and Port W. residents who actually think they will have to consolidate with Savannah, their city charters suddenly voided by Savannah's evil superpowers. This is the level of paranoia and ignorance there is in Chatham County -- and the reason for vociferous community meetings. While Wilmington and Whitemarsh Islands have commercial strips, shopping centers, and such, they're under-developed for the population of 30,000. They have more residents with modest incomes compared to Skidaway, too. BOTTOM LINE: After yesterday (almost 63% to 37%, 70% voter turnout), your brilliant neighbors' incorporation movement has one nail in the coffin, maybe three.