Savannah-Chatham County Public School System Packet Summary — July 8, 2026
Public Hearing on the FY 2027 Millage Rate
The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System has scheduled the first of three public hearings on the FY 2027 millage rate for July 8 at 11:00 a.m. The agenda includes a Division of Finance presentation on the proposed millage rate and an opportunity for public speakers.
The district is not recommending an increase in the current millage rate. The proposed FY 2027 maintenance and operations rate is 17.331 mills, unchanged from FY 2026, with no bond millage.
Why a Hearing Is Required Despite a Flat Rate
Georgia's Taxpayer Bill of Rights requires additional procedures when a taxing authority proposes a millage rate above the calculated rollback rate. The packet explains that the rollback rate accounts for increased taxable value resulting from reassessments and is intended to identify the rate that would offset that growth.
For FY 2027, the packet calculates:
- Proposed maintenance and operations rate: 17.331 mills
- Rollback rate: 17.049 mills
- Difference above the rollback rate: 1.65%
- Change from the FY 2026 millage rate: 0 mills
Because the proposed 17.331-mill rate exceeds the 17.049-mill rollback rate, state law requires it to be advertised as a tax increase, along with a press release and three public hearings. The packet emphasizes that this requirement applies even though the district is proposing to keep its actual millage rate unchanged.
Property Values and the Tax Digest
The packet shows growth in the district's tax base between the FY 2026 and FY 2027 calculations. The maintenance and operations net digest rises from $23.99 billion to approximately $24.72 billion.
The rollback calculation identifies $401,860,341 in reassessment value added. As a result, property owners whose assessed values rise may owe more in school taxes even with the millage rate remaining at 17.331 mills.
Projected Tax Impact
For a homestead appraised at $250,000, assuming only the S1 state homestead exemption and no change in property value, the packet projects total school taxes of $1,698.44 under both FY 2026 and FY 2027.
Under that example:
- Millage rate increase: $0.00
- Annual tax increase: $0.00
- Monthly increase: $0.00
The packet also illustrates how changes in property value can affect a tax bill at the same 17.331-mill rate. Its examples show estimated school M&O taxes of $2,253.03 when an illustrative property's value increases to $325,000, $2,079.72 when it remains at $300,000, and $1,906.41 when it decreases to $275,000.
Public Hearing Schedule
Three hearings are identified as part of the FY 2027 millage-rate process:
- July 8, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. — Public Hearing #1
- July 8, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. — Public Hearing #2
- July 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. — Public Hearing #3
The July 8 morning hearing is scheduled for the Jessie Collier Deloach Board Room at the Whitney Administrative Complex, Building G, 2 Laura Avenue in Savannah.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The central issue is the distinction between an unchanged school millage rate and the legally defined tax increase above the rollback rate. The Division of Finance is scheduled to present the FY 2027 millage information, and the agenda provides time for public speakers before adjournment.
