City Council Workshop | June 25, 2026

The City Council Workshop for the City of Savannah held on June 25, 2026, focused primarily on the city's tourism economy and financial status. A detailed presentation was given by Visit Savannah, the city's contracted destination marketing organization, outlining their $19 million budget funded largely by hotel-motel tax revenues. The presentation highlighted the organization's marketing strategies, visitor demographics, and the economic impact of tourism, which supports over 27,000 jobs and generates approximately $4 billion in visitor spending annually. Discussions included the allocation of hotel-motel tax funds, the role of other destination marketing organizations in the region, and efforts to promote inclusivity and equitable economic participation. The council also received a comprehensive financial audit report from Mauldin & Jenkins, which issued a clean opinion on the city's 2025 financial statements and federal grant compliance. The mid-year financial update revealed a cautious outlook due to slowing revenue growth and rising expenditures, particularly in personnel costs. The council discussed the upcoming millage rate setting, with a consensus leaning toward maintaining the current rate of 11.749 mills to avoid budget shortfalls and preserve financial reserves. The meeting concluded with plans for further budget discussions and public hearings related to the millage rate and fiscal year 2027 budget.