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Savannah council approves request for hotel/motel excise tax; council votes 8–1 to seek state authorization
Summary
The Savannah City Council voted 8–1 on June 11 to ask the Georgia General Assembly to authorize a local hotel/motel excise tax under O.C.G.A. 48-13-51(b), with City Manager Pat Monahan reading required distribution percentages; Alderwoman Kesha Gibson-Carter cast the lone no vote after debate about earmarks and governance.
Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson II and the City Council on June 11 voted 8–1 to request that the Georgia General Assembly authorize a local hotel/motel excise tax under O.C.G.A. 48-13-51(b), advancing a funding option council members said could support tourism, the convention center and other projects.
City Manager Pat Monahan read the distribution percentages that the draft resolution identified as required by state law: “37.5% to the City of Savannah’s unrestricted General Fund; 33.8% for destination marketing organization; 14% for the Savannah Convention Center; and 14.7% for tourism product development,” he said. Council moved toward approval after brief debate about whether to specify projects or leave allocations more general in the resolution.
Alderwoman Kesha Gibson-Carter pressed for clarity on the 14.7% referenced in the staff presentation, asking whether funds within that allocation would have explicit parameters for distribution to minority‑owned or small chambers; Monahan and Mayor Johnson said distribution to particular organizations would come from the city allocation or the destination marketing allocation depending on each organization’s status as a 501(c)(6). After a substitute motion and discussion, the final motion to approve the resolution passed 8–1; Gibson-Carter voted no.
The resolution asks the General Assembly to adopt local legislation authorizing the excise tax; specifics about projects and final allocations will be refined as the council develops the implementing resolution and legal advertisement. The council record shows members emphasizing that exact project lists and final dollar allocations will depend on final project costs.
Next steps: city staff will prepare the formal resolution to present to the General Assembly and publish the required legal advertisement, after which the local legislation must be adopted by the state legislature before the city may collect the tax.
