Sunday Solutions — Jan. 7, 2024
And we’re back! Happy New Year to each of you — 2024 looks to be a very “entertaining” year, starting with the Georgia General Assembly as it opens its 40-ish day session this week. We’ve got a few things to catch up on and some new ideas for your thoughtful reading.
Tax exemptions: Finding facts
Here’s a big In Case You Missed It item from the holiday week: The Current’s data reporter, Maggie Lee, spent months analyzing the Chatham County tax digest for 2023 to get to the truth about how much property is tax exempt and who owns it. As it turns out, the answers may be surprising and, yet, not so shocking. The taxpayers own the most property, via the Savannah Economic Development Authority, cities, Georgia Ports and Savannah-Chatham Public School System. Who gets second place? Places of religious worship and burial grounds. Savannah College of Art and Design holds nearly 100 Savannah properties, most of which are exempt from taxes as an education nonprofit.
So what should you make of all this? There are a variety of points to ponder in Lee’s research, including the list of exempt entities that make payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and which don’t, the consistency or inconsistencies of county property valuation, the state laws that make broad exemptions possible, the negotiating power of regional development authorities, and the amount of money diverted from budgets to support the school and public safety systems. With the facts in front of you, you can decide how you feel about the investments in growth and jobs, and you can consider the scope and scale of those choices. An example from the story: “In 2022, the impact of these deals equated to more than $30 million in potential tax revenue uncollected for public schools, county and city services, including the Chatham Area Transit Authority.”
Of all the projects over the past few years, only one development — a warehouse used by Amazon — has asked to pay school taxes. It pays $982,000 a year. In Bulloch County, school taxes aren’t even on the table for an exemption. “When I started, it was my point of view that the school system, particularly in a county like ours, is so vital to creating a local workforce for these kinds of projects,” said Bulloch development official Benjy Thompson. Read Lee’s research here.
Set priorities for your reps
Monday brings the Georgia General Assembly back into session under the Gold Dome in Atlanta. You can expect the next few months to be raucous as your elected representatives spar over bills leftover from last year and new ones they haven’t even presented yet. They’ve got a $16 billion surplus to spend. But this isn’t about them. It’s about you, the constituents they represent. What do you want them to focus on? How would you like to see that budget surplus invested? Cities, school boards and businesses sent up their wish lists. We’ve gleaned the common items from lists throughout Coastal Georgia — now it’s time to send yours. Here’s a link to our annual “Rank Your Legislative Priorities” form. Last year, the reps didn’t do so well, based on your list. Let’s see how they do this year. Click here to rank your priorities and we’ll make sure they know them.
Year-end quiz: A perfectly good tie
We know you’ve been anxiously awaiting the results of our Year-End News Quiz. Congratulations to Savannah Agenda (aka Eric Curl) and Chris M. who both tied for first place with a perfect score! Way to go! We will be in touch about how you can receive your wicked new coffee mug from The Current.
🎉 Congrats to our Leaderboard for the Year-End News Quiz:
First Place (23/23): Savannah Agenda, Chris M.
Second Place (19/23): Frances, Audrey, EMF33
Third Place (18/23): Peaches
It’s not too late to join the fun. Welcome to the first weekly News Quiz of 2024! Each week, we’ll give you the opportunity to test your news knowledge with a few short questions related to stories we published earlier in the week.
Leave a first name or nickname so we can keep track of your score. We are now tracking your scores week over week, so make sure to include your name or nickname with each News Quiz every week to see how you do over the long term. And yes, there will be prizes!
Let’s get this party started: This week’s quiz.
What’s cooking
- State House Democrats hold hearing on pregnancy-related deaths: As documented before in this weekly missive, Georgia’s record for maternal deaths is abysmal and access to prenatal care for many women doesn’t exist. For example: In more than half of the state’s 159 counties, there is no obstetrician. Last June, a report found there was a 20% increase in pregnancy-related deaths in the last three years. 89% of them were deemed preventable. So, there’s good reason for a legislative committee to bring the problem to the forefront.
- State Senate Republicans tweaking new prosecutors oversight board: After the Georgia Supreme Court said it couldn’t review rules for the new Prosecutor Oversight Commission, the legislature has to figure out what’s next. Two Senate leaders say they are set to do that.
- Jan. 6 anniversary sees 22 arrests of Georgians, with some cases still ongoing: The three-year anniversary passed Saturday and this report from GPB News updates us on the 22 Georgians who were arrested in the aftermath of the insurrection, including two from Coastal Georgia.
- Jekyll, ‘Georgia’s jewel,’ is thriving. But development fears linger: This report from news partner Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Savannah reporter Adam Van Brimmer has an overview of the updates at Jekyll Island and a look ahead at what could be the next stages of development on a barrier island where the main lure has been natural areas and unspoiled beaches.
Your second cup: Why streaks matter
Many of us look at the new year as a good time to reset something in life — lose weight, start a reading goal or begin something new we know we need to do. It all starts with one act, then another, then another to keep momentum. New research by a marketing professor at Clemson tells us that keeping a steady, daily achievements may be more than half the battle — it may be the whole war. The unbroken streak becomes as important as the goal you were aiming for. Just ask anyone who missed a day of Wordle, right? We’re always hoping you consider The Current part of your daily routine — we know good habits matter and this report tells us why.
Enjoy.
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On the record: Which entities pay — and don’t pay — Chatham County property taxes
Under state law, properties owned by public agencies, schools and nonprofits are generally tax exempt. A three-month investigation breaks down which ones pay and which ones do not.
State House Democrats hold hearing on pregnancy-related deaths
Ahead of the General Assembly starting next week, House Democrats in Georgia held a hearing Thursday to discuss maternal mortality in the state.
State Senate Republicans tweaking new prosecutors oversight board
Georgia Supreme Court said it couldn’t review the new commission’s standards of conduct, effectively blocking the bill from taking effect.
Jan. 6 anniversary sees 22 arrests of Georgians, with some cases still ongoing
22 arrested for Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection; one member of Oath Keepers from Guyton pleaded to seditious conspiracy.
Jekyll, ‘Georgia’s jewel,’ is thriving. But development fears linger
A 15-year-long revitalization initiative that has brought new oceanfront hotels, shops and a state-run convention center — and a recent tourism surge — is nearing completion. Set to begin in the new year is an overhaul of the island’s golf course complex and upgrades to the Pier Road retail corridor, located in the shadow of the iconic Jekyll Island Club.
Keeping a streak alive can be strong motivation to stick with a chosen activity
Marketing researchers find activity streaks can compel behavior, giving the power to the streak itself.
Georgia public health leader sounds alarm as report confirms spike in pregnancy-related deaths
Of the deaths studied in the new report, 113 were concluded to be related to pregnancy – and 89% of them were deemed preventable, meaning they had “at least some chance of being prevented,” according to the report.
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