Continuation of the FY 2026 Budget Retreat and City Council Workshop | November 25, 2025

The City of Savannah held a continuation of its FY 2026 Budget Retreat and City Council Workshop on November 25, 2025, focusing extensively on budget framework, capital improvement projects, and utility services. Key procurement-related discussions included the proposed $656 million citywide budget with significant allocations for personnel increases, including 30 new firefighters, and capital investments such as $791 million in a five-year capital plan featuring $40 million for the civic center legacy project and $36.6 million for a new administrative building. The council reviewed enterprise funds, including sanitation and water/sewer utilities, with projected rate increases to support infrastructure expansion and debt service. A major topic was the proposed storm water utility fee, designed to fund enhanced maintenance and capital projects for storm water management, with detailed rate structures based on impervious surface area and credits for mitigation efforts. Legal counsel clarified that the storm water fee is considered a user fee, not a tax, which affects its implementation and funding mechanisms. The council also discussed customer service challenges in utility billing and ongoing efforts to modernize metering and billing systems. Several motions and requests for further information on capital projects, bond issuances, and program effectiveness were made, with an emphasis on transparency and community engagement. The meeting concluded with plans for additional sessions to finalize the budget and related ordinances.