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Chatham County chief appraiser: 2024 digest rose, new construction and appeals increased
Summary
Corey Gillenwater, chief appraiser for the Chatham County Board of Assessors, told the Savannah‑Chatham County Board of Public Education on April 9, 2025 that assessed values rose in 2024, new construction added hundreds of millions in value, parcel counts increased and appeals have climbed.
Corey Gillenwater, chief appraiser for the Chatham County Board of Assessors, presented a 2024 valuation update at the Savannah‑Chatham County Board of Public Education’s April 9, 2025 informal meeting.
Gillenwater said the county’s 2024 fair market value was about $70.4 billion, which he said corresponds to roughly $29.5 billion in assessed (40%) values. He reported that unincorporated Chatham accounted for about $30.5 billion of assessed value and the City of Savannah was close to $27 billion; he noted that Vernonburg’s parcel values total about $98.4 million.
The assessor’s office reported adding about 2,000 new parcels in 2024 and that they were on track to add about 2,500 parcels in the current year. Gillenwater said 2024 saw a banner year for new residential construction and that residential new construction represented about $382 million in fair‑market value; commercial new construction was roughly $230 million and combined commercial/industrial new construction was about $454 million. He summarized that digest additions from new construction were approaching roughly $1 billion in value.
Gillenwater described workload and operational figures: roughly 70 appraisal staff across residential, commercial and personal property divisions; personal property accounts number about 26,530; homestead applications exceeded 5,000 this year (April 1 filing); and property transfers for the year were nearly 12,600. He also said appeal counts have risen, citing about 4,000 residential appeals and noting individual staff workloads sometimes reached several hundred appeals.
On timelines and process, Gillenwater outlined the homestead and notice deadlines, the 45‑day appeal window after notices, and the September 1 tax‑digest submission deadline. He said the office is required to physically inspect properties on a three‑year cycle and described triggers such as permits and sales that prompt earlier field visits.
Board members asked about assessment methodology, appeal outcomes and incentives for property upkeep. Gillenwater offered to conduct a workshop for trustees explaining assessment inputs, market comparables and the appeals process. No board vote or formal action was taken on the informational report.
