The City of Savannah is recapping its annual FY2026 Budget Retreat, held Monday at the Savannah Civic Center, where City Council, the City Manager, and staff spent a full day publicly reviewing the proposed budget, discussing strategic priorities, and outlining how resources will be invested in neighborhoods throughout Savannah.

As the City moves into the next phase of the budget process, residents are encouraged to participate in the upcoming public hearings on the 2026 Proposed Budget and Revenue Ordinance.

Mayor Van R. Johnson, II: “We open the doors.”

Mayor Johnson emphasized Savannah’s commitment to transparency and community involvement in every step of the budgeting process.

Mayor Johnson said, “As a City, we have many different ways we fund the services Savannahians rely on every single day. And how we collect that money, and how we put it right back into our neighborhoods. That’s the heart of this entire budget process.

“Here in Savannah, we don’t do budgeting in some back room. We open the doors. We pull up the chairs. We lay everything out on the table. And we invite you — our residents — to sit with us and see exactly where your money goes. Yesterday, we kicked off our annual budget retreat, and if you tuned in, you saw your City Council and staff rolling up our sleeves and working through next year’s priorities. It’s long. It’s detailed. It’s transparent, just the way it should be.”

City Manager Jay Melder: “Our budget is our roadmap.”

City Manager Jay Melder highlighted that the FY2026 budget is the first full budget developed under Savannah GPS, the community-driven strategic plan adopted this year.

“This proposed budget reflects the direction our residents and our City Council gave us through Savannah GPS,” Melder said. “Our community told us what matters most—safer streets, stronger infrastructure, cleaner neighborhoods, and expanded opportunity. This budget puts those priorities into action.

“A budget is more than numbers. It’s our roadmap. It charts where we’re going and how we measure our progress. As we implement Savannah GPS, this roadmap ensures we are investing responsibly, sustaining our future, and moving our city forward.”

Retreat Overview

At the all-day retreat, City staff presented:

• The full FY2026 Proposed Budget

• Department initiatives aligned with Savannah GPS

• Current financial forecasts and long-range planning

• Infrastructure, housing, sanitation, and public safety investments

• Opportunities for public engagement throughout the adoption process

The event was open to the public and livestreamed across the City’s platforms.

Upcoming Public Hearings

Residents are invited to attend and provide feedback during the required public hearings for the FY2026 Proposed Budget and Revenue Ordinance:

Public Hearing #1:
Nov. 25, 2025

2 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers

Public Hearing #2:
Dec. 11, 2025

2 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers

Community members may also submit questions electronically at [email protected].

Access the FY2026 Proposed Budget

The public can review the 2026 Proposed Budget online at //savannahga.gov/budget or in person at:

Clerk of Council Office
City Hall, First Floor, 2 E. Bay St.
Mon–Fri, 8:15 a.m.–5 p.m.

Bull Street Library
2002 Bull St.
Mon 10–7; Tues–Fri 10–6; Sat 10–2

Southwest Chatham Library
14097 Abercorn St.
Mon 10–7; Tues–Fri 10–6; Sat 10–2

*Photos attached are from the budget retreat Nov. 17, and may be shared.