As expected, Savannah City Council today adopted a controversial new budget for 2018, which includes a hotly contested new Fire Service Fee estimated to cost each household nearly $300, and apply to all nonprofits and public school buildings.
"The cupboard is bare, it's what we had to do, and we had to move forward," Mayor Eddie DeLoach said in explaining the process of arriving at the budget, which includes hikes in other fees and cuts to some services.
Alderpersons Tony Thomas, Van Johnson, and Estella Shabazz voted against.
Thomas said that practical enforcement of the Fire Fee remains unaddressed, and wondered aloud what will happen if a nonprofit just doesn't pay it.…
"The cupboard is bare, it's what we had to do, and we had to move forward," Mayor Eddie DeLoach said in explaining the process of arriving at the budget, which includes hikes in other fees and cuts to some services.
Alderpersons Tony Thomas, Van Johnson, and Estella Shabazz voted against.
Thomas said that practical enforcement of the Fire Fee remains unaddressed, and wondered aloud what will happen if a nonprofit just doesn't pay it.…