Pooler City Council approved a 0.5 mill property tax increase, raising the millage rate to 4.197 mills. The increase aims to address projected future budget shortfalls and rising costs.

The new rate increase would raise the average residential water bill from approximately $76 per month to $85 per month — up $9 a month, or roughly 12% higher than current rates.

Starting in October, the increase will go into effect. The rate will continue to increase by an extra $1.25 a month each year from 2026 until 2029, then $1.00 each year from 2030-2034.

In 2030, the rate will increase an additional $1 each year through 2034. All told, this will lead the average monthly bill for a single-family home to increase from where it currently sits at $24. ...