Why is Garden City interested in annexing Southbridge? An annexed Southbridge would fit perfectly into the residentially friendly vision Garden City has established for the area of the City south of Interstate 16 and would give Garden City a highly-regarded residential community with regional name recognition. Additionally, Garden City would benefit from an increased population, making the City eligible for a larger percentage of County sales tax as well as State and Federal grant revenue.
Would my mailing address change from “Savannah” to “Garden City”? No. Zip codes are unaffected by annexation. As confirmed by the Postmaster of Savannah, Southbridge mailing addresses would remain Savannah, GA 31405 even after annexation.
Letter from the Postmaster Would annexation into Garden City save me money? Yes. If you compare property tax rates and service delivery costs in Garden City verses Chatham County, Southbridge residents would see an average annual savings of $1,004 per year if annexed into Garden City.
Service Delivery/Cost Comparison TableWould annexation negatively affect my property values? No. Annexation into Garden City would have no effect on Southbridge property values, whereas the absence of city property taxes could actually increase the marketability of for-sale properties.
How would my police protection change?
The Garden City Police Department would assume responsibility for all law enforcement operations within Southbridge at no cost to residents. Upon annexation, the Southbridge community would become a separate and additional police zone. Police coverage in this new “Southbridge Zone” would be 24/7 and consist of one police officer assigned to patrol this zone EXCLUSIVELY. In addition to the patrol officer, at least one pass-through of Southbridge would be conducted during each shift by the assistant shift supervisor, shift supervisor and duty officer. This means that at any given time, between 1 and 4 police officers will be patrolling Southbridge, day and night, providing enhanced security.
How would my fire protection change? While the Southside Fire Department would retain fire protection responsibilities for the Southbridge community, the Garden City Fire Department would enhance fire protection by providing supplemental fire response. Additionally and subject to the availability of funds, Garden City would look to partner with the Southside Fire Department and either subsidize all or a portion of the fire protection fees charged to Southbridge homeowners. Either option would result in a decreased fire protection bill for every Southbridge homeowner.
Would zoning change within Southbridge? No. If Southbridge were annexed into Garden City, the City would continue to preserve the single-family residential character of the Southbridge community.
Would my water and sewage service change? No. Water and sewer service in Southbridge is currently provided by either the City of Savannah or Consolidated Utilities. Even after annexation, the City of Savannah and Consolidated Utilities would continue to provide water/sewer service, operate and maintain their respective utility lines, determine utility rates and retain responsibility for utility billing.
Would annexation affect where my children go to school? No. School zone boundaries are unaffected by annexation.
How would my trash pick-up change?
Garden City has a municipal contract with Waste Management for solid waste collection. If annexed, Southbridge residential customers would receive weekly household trash collection and bi-monthly single-stream curbside recycling service for only $16.15 per month. Additionally, dry trash would be picked up once a month by Garden City Public Works personnel at no cost to residents.
Is Garden City a financially strong municipal government? Absolutely. Garden City currently holds both the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award as well as the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. These awards not only reflect the City’s consistently solid financial position and performance but are jointly held by less than 2% of all municipalities in the country.
What kind of government does Garden City have?
Garden City operates under a Council-Manager form of government. This system of government combines the strong political leadership of elected officials with the strong managerial experience of an appointed manager. Under the Council-Manager form of government, Garden City’s elected officials focus on policymaking while the City Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of the City. Garden City also uses a mixed election system whereas five members of City Council are elected from single-member districts with the Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem being elected at-large. This mixed election system ensures that each member of the governing body has an equal voice in policy development and administrative oversight, giving neighborhoods and diverse groups a greater opportunity to influence policy.