City HallTuesday, November 3
Chatham County drops its bid for a fire fee rehearing to save on interest
The Daily Savannah team
If you paid Chatham County's fire fee, here's where things stand. Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to drop their request that the Georgia Supreme Court reconsider its ruling, which orders the county to pay about $30 million to current and former residents.
Interest is the reason commissioners want this over quickly
- $30 million
- about what the court ordered the county to pay
- $1 million
- or more in interest the move could save, commissioners say
- $225,000
- in interest for a 30-day month, the county attorney said
Commissioners met in a special meeting Monday morning. County Attorney Hart said interest runs daily on the judgment, so paying sooner means paying less. District 7 Commissioner Dean Kicklighter said the commission will present a detailed explanation at its next meeting.
- Refund total: nearly $30 million, including interest
- Payment details: not set; the county awaits the court's order
Earlier this year, the court ordered Emanuel County to repay $650,000. If Chatham follows that process, here's how it would work.
Chatham residents would be repaid two ways under Emanuel's process
| Who paid the fee | How they'd be repaid |
|---|---|
| Current residents | Repayment mailed automatically |
| Former residents | Submit info through an online portal |
Source: WTOC