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Board approves 2025 revenue ordinance including SSD millage increase and higher solid-waste fee amid budget debate
Summary
Chatham County commissioners approved the 2025 revenue ordinance, which raised the Special Service District (SSD) millage from 4.502 to 6.502 mills and increased the solid-waste fee from $85 to $125; commissioners debated the timing and equity of rates versus recent millage changes.
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners voted on Aug. 8 to adopt the county’s 2025 revenue ordinance, which includes multiple fee changes and rate adjustments the manager and staff had submitted during budget preparation.
What changed: The ordinance increases the Special Service District (SSD) millage from 4.502 mils to 6.502 mils (an increase of 2.000 mills). The revenue ordinance also updates multiple departmental fees and administrative charges across police records, engineering, parks and solid waste. Notably, the county’s dry-trash (solid-waste) fee was raised from $85 to $125.
Why it matters: Commissioners debated the timing and fairness of the solid-waste fee increase after the board had already approved a 2-mill increase targeted to fund fire services for unincorporated areas. Commissioner comments reflected concern that raising both millage and user fees may burden residents. County staff and solid-waste management said the solid-waste fee must increase to maintain the service without continued transfers from other funds.
Details read into the record by Miss Davis included police-records fee updates, fingerprinting fees for ABC permits ($5), video/audio copying fees tied to OCGA 50-18-96(g), and changes to engineering and floodplain review fees. Several engineering fees were increased or restructured to reflect expanded review and inspection responsibilities.
Solid-waste explanation: County staff explained the solid-waste fund is not self-supporting at the existing $85 fee and requires higher fees because transfers previously covered equipment replacement. The speaker said the SSD previously subsidized the operation with transfers (ranging from roughly $676,000 in 2023 to $2.7 million in 2024), and that transfer authority had been removed or limited this year. The department cited heavy capital costs for collection trucks and grinders (grinders cost roughly $1 million each and wear out in about five years) and said the $125 fee is required to sustain equipment replacement and service.
Board debate: Commissioner Taylor (and others) questioned several fee increases (for example, a 100% increase for arborist lot-review fees and large jumps for flood-plain development review fees). Staff explained those fees reflect expanded inspection scope, longer review and multi-year closeout and enforcement work. Commissioners asked staff to provide supporting rationale and cost analyses where department fee increases were substantial.
Ending: The revenue ordinance passed after a motion and second; staff committed to reinsert language clarifying that daytime daytime field usage for community-recognized organizations (two hours free) remains a county practice and to circulate supporting documentation and cost justifications for specific fee increases.
