Chatham County School Board Ad Valorem Tax Referendum

Last updated Sun, Nov 8, 3:15 AM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Chatham County school district voters

What it does
Shall the Act amending the adjusted base year assessed value homestead exemption from Chatham County and City of Savannah School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes be approved so as to prevent any future increases in the adjusted base year assessed value of a homestead above the assessed value of such homestead in tax year 2025?
A YES vote means
For Savannah-Chatham school taxes, the base-year value used for a home's homestead exemption could not rise above the home's assessed value in tax year 2025.
A NO vote means
The school tax homestead exemption's base-year value would not be capped at the home's 2025 assessed value.
Needed to pass
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean
Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

  • Under a 1999 local act, Chatham County homesteads get an exemption from Chatham County and City of Savannah School District taxes based on a 'base year' assessed value.
  • The 'adjusted base year assessed value' is the home's base-year assessed value increased each year by the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The exemption covers the amount by which the current assessed value exceeds that adjusted value, so the taxable value for school taxes can still rise with inflation.
  • If the current assessed value falls to or below the base-year value, the adjusted value equals the current value.

If it passes

  • After tax year 2026, a homestead's adjusted base year assessed value could not exceed its adjusted value for tax year 2025.
  • In effect, the value on which school district taxes are figured would stop rising with inflation and would be held at the 2025 level (it could still go down if the home's assessed value falls).
  • It affects school district taxes only, not county or city taxes.

Who would notice

Homeowners in Chatham County who receive the base-year homestead exemption, and the school district, whose property tax base would grow more slowly.

How it got here

The Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 1200 (Reps. Stephens, Petrea, Hitchens, Gilliard and Westbrook), a local act that needed a two-thirds vote in each chamber and requires approval by voters in the school district. The introduced bill called for a vote at the 2026 primary; the Chatham County Board of Elections has called it for the November 3, 2026 general election.

Written by SpectrumVote from 2 linked sources (1, 2). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

The question would amend a 1999 local act (Ga. L. 1999, p. 4215) that gives a base-year homestead exemption from Chatham County and City of Savannah School District taxes.

Under that act, a homestead's "adjusted base year assessed value" rises each year by the increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. House Bill 1200 (2026) would stop that annual increase after tax year 2025, so the adjusted base year value could not later exceed its tax year 2025 level.

House Bill 1200 was sponsored by Representatives Stephens, Petrea, Hitchens, Gilliard and Westbrook. The Chatham County election notice says the question goes to voters at the November 3, 2026 general election.

Put on the ballot by Georgia General Assembly, House Bill 1200 (2026 local act, introduced text cited); Chatham County special election notice for November 3, 2026.

From official source 1, official source 2.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Chatham County School Board Ad Valorem Tax Referendum mean?
For Savannah-Chatham school taxes, the base-year value used for a home's homestead exemption could not rise above the home's assessed value in tax year 2025.
What does a NO vote on Chatham County School Board Ad Valorem Tax Referendum mean?
The school tax homestead exemption's base-year value would not be capped at the home's 2025 assessed value.
Does this freeze my whole tax bill?
No. It limits the adjusted base value used for the school district exemption; school tax rates can still change, and county and city taxes are not affected.
What is the CPI adjustment?
Under current law the base-year value rises each year by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The amendment stops those increases after the 2025 level.
Who can vote?
Electors of the Chatham County and City of Savannah School District.
How many votes does Chatham County School Board Ad Valorem Tax Referendum need to pass?
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Chatham County School Board Ad Valorem Tax Referendum?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?
The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Chatham County ballot.

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