SAVANNAH, Ga. () – The City of Savannah is publicly rejecting the state’s homestead exemption proposal also known as House Bill 581.

The reason being is Savannah and Chatham County homeowners are taxed under the Stephens-Day model, and they said it is better than the state’s proposal.

“The new house bill will lock you into a 2024 tax assessment, so if you’ve had yours locked in for more than a few years, you’d probably want to stay with for a few reasons,” said Savannah realtor Sean Williams of Keller Williams Realty. “It’s going to be a lot cheaper because you’ve already been locked in for a while, and it also locks in your city taxes not just your county taxes.”

Williams says that way, your city and county taxes will not increase as much as they could under the state’s model.

Savannah city leaders, including Mayor Van Johnson and Aldermen, are holding a public forum Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. to hear from homeowners and to explain their position.

Savannah homeowner Bob Rosenwald said he will be in attendance.

“I have a lot of questions,” said Rosenwald, “and I think what the city needs to do is clarify the issues about Stephens-Day visa-vi 581.”

Rosenwald said he has not made up his mind about what model he prefers, though he has formed an opinion based on his own research.

“I’ve lived with it for the entire time I’ve been here, and it’s a model that’s very good for individuals like me who own a home, but I don’t think it’s the best thing for the city at large because you’re basing home values on many years ago, and inflation is what it is,” said Rosenwald.

Williams sees it differently.

“I think for counties that do not have an exemption already, there is a big pro, it locks your state taxes in place, but for a county like us who has had a Stephens-Day exemption for year, I can’t pinpoint what would be an advantage for us,” said Williams.

The city and county have unofficially decided together they will reject the state’s exemption.

There will be an official decision made over the course of three public forums, the first being held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the board of education room at the Eli Whitney Administrative Complex.