Metro Savannah Guide
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Metro Savannah Guide.com was created with you in Mind for the Metro Savannah area.

Metro Savannah Guide.com features local news, real estate listings, restaurants, weather, visitor's guide, local business directory, calendar, reviews, and more.

Metro Savannah Guide.com is new and will be changing and growing often. Take time to get familiar with us and visit daily for the latest updates.

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Settling in Savannah PDF Print E-mail

Here is some information to help you get settled in Savannah

Automobile/Boat
Within 30 days of moving to Georgia, newcomers must apply for a Georgia Driver’s license and a Georgia license plate for each vehicle. For registration, proof of insurance is required by Georgia law, along with current registration, a Georgia driver’s license, title and name/address of lien holder or copy of lease agreement and a power of attorney from the leasing company.

Chatham County Auto Tag Department
1145 Eisenhower Drive, 31406     912.652.6800
295 Police Memorial Drive, 31405     912.644.4010
461 Johnny Mercer Blvd., 31410     912.898.3307

Boat Registration     goboatgeorgia.com     800.366.2661

Georgia State Driver’s License
1117 Eisenhower Drive, 31406
912.691.7400
www.dds.ga.gov                             
To transfer a valid license from another state in the United States or from the District of Columbia, you must present:

Your valid driver’s license.
Some form of personal identification, such as a birth certificate (state-issued or certified copy), certified naturalization document, immigration ID card, valid passport or military ID card.
Proof of Georgia residency, including lease or housing contract; rent receipt; utility bill; bank statement; or employer verification (on their letterhead, stating address).
Social Security number.

Government Numbers to Know
Chatham County Courthouse     912.652.7850
Chatham County Department of Family and Children Services     912.651.2216
Chatham County Health Department     912.356.2441
Chatham County Tax Assessor     912.652.7271
Georgia Department of Revenue     912.356.2140

Hunting and Fishing Licenses
Wildlife Resources Division   
912.727.2111

Legal
State Bar of Georgia   
404.527.8700

Live Oak Public Libraries
Main Branch: 2002 Bull St., 31401
www.liveoakpl.org
912.652.3600

There are 14 branches throughout Chatham County, and library cards are free to residents.

Georgia Historical Society
501 Whitaker St.
www.georgiahistory.com   
912.651.2125

Extensive collection of historical documents, photographs and books.


Media

Television
WSAV (3) NBC     651.0300
WVAN (9) PBS     800.222.6006
WTOC (11) CBS     234.1111
WGSA (13) CW     692.8000
WJCL (22) ABC, FOX 28     925.0022

Radio
Adventure Radio Group     351.9830
WLOW (Familiar Favorites)     107.9 FM
WFXH (Rock)     106.1 FM
WGCO (Oldies)     98.3 FM
WGZR (Country)     106.9 FM
WFXH (Sports)     1130 AM
WGZO (Classic Hits)       103.1 FM
Clear Channel Communications     964.7794
WQBT (Hip Hop and R&B)     94.1 FM
WAEV (Top 40)     97.3 FM
WYKZ (Adult Contemporary)     98.7 FM
WLVH (R&B and Old School)     101.1 FM
WSOK (Gospel)       1230 AM
WTKS (News Talk Radio)     1290 AM
Cumulus Broadcasting     629.5000
WEAS (Urban)     93.1 FM
WIXV (Classic Rock)     95.5 FM
WJCL (Country)     96.5 FM
WZAT (Hot Adult Contemporary)     102.1 FM
WBMQ (News Talk Radio)     630 AM
WJLG (Sports Radio)     900 AM
Georgia Public Broadcasting     598.3300
WSVH (Public Radio)     91.1 FM
Thoroughbred Communications     234.1053
WRHQ (Quality Rock)     105.3 FM


Pets
Chatham County Animal Tags
1117 Eisenhower Drive, 31406     201-4300
295 Police Memorial Drive, 31405     644-4029

All cats and dogs must be registered with the Chatham County Animal Control Center. Vaccinations against rabies must be up to date. Tag fees are $5 for all animals that have been spayed or neutered; fees for all others are $35.
Case Veterinary Hospital, P.C.     www.casevet.com     352-3081
Catnip ‘n’ Biscuits     www.catnipnbiscuits.com     349-5838
Crossroad Animal Hospital     www.crossroadah.com     927-4343
Dog Watch of the Low Country     www.dogwatch.com        354-9004


Post Office
To reach the main branch and other branches, call 800-275-8777 or visit www.usps.com
Main Branch     2 N. Fahm Street, 31402     235-4666
Bingville Station     3601 Montgomery St., 31405     234-8935
Eastside Station     1900 E. Victory Dr., 31404     232-0914
Oglethorpe Station     1348 Eisenhower Dr., 31406     351-0640
Port Wentworth     300 Cantyre St., 31407     963-0106
Garden City     4431 Augusta Rd., 31408     964-4033
Wilmington Island           897-4225
Telfair Square     117 W. State St., 31401     232-2952
Tybee Island     102 S. Campbell Ave., 31328     786-9632
Southside Station     10701 Abercorn Ext., 31419     925-9082

Recycling
Chatham County Recycling     652-6858
Keep Savannah Beautiful     651-6948
Savannah Sanitation Bureau     651-6579

Taxes
Savannah Area and Georgia Tax Summary
Compared to other states, Georgia enjoys modest tax rates. The state maintains low tax rates through a fiscally conservative government. A balanced budget is constitutionally mandated, and a pro-business climate nurtures strong economic growth. The state has not changed the maximum corporate income tax rate, which is 6 percent, since 1969.

Chatham County Sales Tax
Seven percent (4 percent state, 3 percent local option) on purchases of most goods and some services. The tax on food items is 5 percent.

Personal Income Tax
On net (after deductions) federal taxable income: $340 on the first $10,000, straight 6 percent of the balance (married filing jointly or single head of household).

Property Tax
Property taxes are assessed on 40 percent of the fair market value of the property. Applied to this amount are millage rates, which are levied by various governing authorities: Chatham County, the Board of Public Education county-wide, and some — but not all — municipalities. The Chatham Area Transit Authority levies a small tax in some service areas. Owner-occupied homes are eligible for homestead exemptions, and additional exemptions apply to certain categories of senior citizens.

Trash Pick-up
Atlantic Waste Services     atlantic-waste.com     964-2000
Republic Waste Services of Savannah     republicservices.com     964-2211
Waste Management of Savannah     wm.com     965-0047
Waste Watchers of Savannah, LLC     wastewatchersllc.com     964-7050


Utilities

Cable Television
Comcast, comcast.com     354-7531/800-266-2278

Electricity
Georgia Power, georgiapower.com    404-506-6526
Sonitrol of Savannah, sonitrol.com    232-6833

Gas
Atlanta Gas Light Company, atlantagaslight.com    239-6500
Georgia Natural Gas, southstarenergy.com    898-1987
Infinite Energy, Inc., infiniteEnergy.com    925-9329
K&M Utilities    927-6285
SCANA Energy, scanaenergy.com    478-743-1552
Southern LNG, Inc., elpaso.com    944-3800

Telephone
AT&T, att.com    888-757-6500/800-356-3094
Comcast, comcast.com    800-266-2278

Water/sewer service
City of Savannah    651-6460
Chatham Water Company    352-9339
Division II Contracting, LLC    330-8830

Water Purification
Kemira Water Solutions, 5kemira.com    234-860

Voter Registration Office
1117 Eisenhower Drive, Suite E, 31406    790-1520
You must be a U.S. citizen of at least 17 1/2 years of age to register and 18 years to vote, mentally sound and not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction.
You must register at least 30 days before an election in which you wish to vote.
You may register at the Voters Registration Office, one of the Chatham County libraries, the Driver’s License Office and certain other government offices.

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Savannah Information PDF Print E-mail

Weather Statistics     
Relative Humidity     87 % a.m., 54% p.m.
Precipitation Days     110
Freezing Days     27
90-Degree Days     69.5
Avg. Min. Temperature     56 Degrees
Avg. Max. Temperature     77 Degrees
Avg. Wind Speed     7.7 Knots
Avg. Rainfall     48.2 inches
Annual Snowfall     0.3 inches


Public Safety     
Emergency     911
Chatham-Savannah Drug Hotline     912.232.0402
Coast Guard Search and Rescue     912.786.5106
Crime Stoppers/Silent Witness     912.234.2020
Emergency Management (Civil Defense)     912.201.4500
Missing Persons     912.652.6500
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan
Police Department (County, Admin)     912.652.6500
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan
Police Department (City, non-emerg)     912.652.6500
Chatham County Sheriff     912.652.7600
Georgia State Patrol     912.754.1180


Population
Chatham County remains the sixth most-populous county in the state of Georgia, with a population of 251,120 in 2008. Population in the Savannah MSA is projected to grow 47.9 percent, adding more than 140,000 people from 2000 to 2030.
Savannah MSA in 2008*
Household Population     334,353
Total Households     127,190
Median Household EBI**     $47,479
* MSA: Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties
** US Census Bureau, American Factfinder, 2005-2008 American Community Survey 3-year Estimates


Cost of Living     
Atlanta, GA     94.2
Austin, TX     96.5
Charleston, SC     99.4
Charlotte, NC     93.3
Chattanooga, TN     89.1
Chicago, IL     113.2
Greenville, SC     89.9
Jacksonville, FL     93.8
Miami-Miami Beach, FL     109.8
San Francisco, CA     162.9
Savannah, GA     92.8
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA     110.6


Area City Halls
Bloomingdale     748.0970     bloomingdale-ga.com
Chatham County     652.7855     chathamcounty.org
Garden City     966.7777     gardencityga.org
Pembroke     653.4413     pembrokega.net
Pooler     748.7261     pooler-ga.us
Port Wentworth     964.4379     cityofportwentworth.com
Richmond Hill     756.3345     richmondhill-ga.gov
Savannah     651.6565     ci.savannah.ga.us
Thunderbolt     629.4653     thunderboltga.org
Tybee Island     786.4573     cityoftybee.org


Population Growth
1999     2000     2008
Savannah MSA*     257,899     293,000     334,353
Chatham County     216,774     232,347     251,120
Effingham County     25,687     37,535     52,060
Bryan County      15,438     23,417     31,173

*Includes Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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