The city of Savannah’s desire to make a new arena a countywide priority project on the next sales-tax referendum in November has been rejected by Chatham County Commission Chairman Al Scott.
The city had asked that the $120 million for the arena, in addition to $25 million for a police headquarters, be designated a level two funding priority that would receive sales tax revenue before other projects on the list.
The city also submitted $158 million worth of separate Savannah projects for consideration.
Scott said he would not make the arena a priority project and has asked the city to cut down its wish list so the cost did not exceed $190 million.
“I think that is a lot of money,” he said. “That could get them an arena and the police headquarters. They just need to set their priorities.”
On Monday, Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson said she still hopes to get the arena and police precinct approved as countywide priority projects.
Jackson said she intends to meet with Scott prior to the final list being completed but has to wait until City Manager Stephanie Cutter returns from vacation on Monday.
Scott has given the city until Sept. 4 to submit a final list to leave enough time to submit it to the Chatham County Board of Elections and meet advertising requirements.
Due to the Labor Day holiday, Jackson has just one day to meet with Scott and convince him to change his mind.
“A lot can be accomplished in one day,” Jackson said.
Scott said he is also still working with some of the county’s smaller municipalities to finalize their lists. Some cities had listed projects that do not qualify and he had to cut the total amounts down, he said.
Due to the number of outside visitors, Scott said he did agree to designate about $6 million in county tax funds toward Tybee’s beach renourishment, along with some funding for the renovations of the restrooms at the Tybee Pier and Pavilion.
The six-year tax is estimated to raise about $370 million if voters approve it this fall.
Scott said he also plans to include a $4 million tax rebate in the referendum that would lower county property tax rates.
The rebate funds would come from the $16 million originally approved during the previous referendum for a pump station for the Pipemakers canal. Scott said re-designating the remaining $12 million for general drainage improvements in west Savannah was now believed by county engineers to be more beneficial than a pump house.
One of Scott’s priority projects is the development of an industrial development park to draw businesses and jobs to the county. He said he plans to designate about $27 million in tax revenue for the project.