City of Pooler increases property taxes nearly 14%

by Lindsey Stenger

POOLER, Ga. (WTOC) - A 4-2 vote at Monday’s city council meeting ended the discussion of a nearly 14% property tax increase.

It’s something the Pooler City Manager Heath Lloyd says the city is not blind to.

“We understand that this is a tax increase, but we believe that this is necessary,” said Lloyd.

While most of the city council agreed on the new mileage rate, people attending Monday’s meeting weren’t too convinced.

One woman stepping up to the mic saying, this is going to be much harder than what the council is understanding.

“The pressure this puts one working families, on seniors, on fixed incomes, and young professionals is very significant so it’s not just $40, $80 like you guys are saying,” the speaker said.

The council ultimately approved increasing its millage rate .500 mils to 4.197. Councilmembers Shannon Valim and John Wilcher were the two not in favor of this increase.

Pooler City leaders say even with the increased millage rate, Pooler sits at a lower rate than neighboring areas like Port Wentworth and Savannah.

With the 13.5% increase— a home with a fair market price of $150,000 will have a proposed tax increase of approximately $30 a year.

The website Homes.com shows very few listings in Pooler for the price range of $150,000 with only 4 showing up and they are empty lots.

The second example the city gave was for a $300,000 where a non-exemption tax would apply. Even at that rate Home.com shows there are less than 50 options for $300,000 homes.

For home owners like Dominick D’Ottavio, they were hoping for a roll back instead of the rate hike.

“The local government here in Pooler seems to be going the opposite way, instead of going that they are putting even more burden on people. So I don’t understand why they are choosing to do that,” he said.

According to the City Manager Heath Lloyd, Pooler staff tried to tighten the budget year after year to allow for that roll back rate but says there is only go much tightening they can do.

The City of Pooler says the additional tax revenue will go toward funding drainage projects, infrastructure and operational costs.

The full list of planned investments can be viewed below: