Georgia Supreme Court strikes down Chatham County fire service fee

The Georgia Supreme Court struck down a fire service fee levied by Chatham County. The court upheld a superior court ruling that the fee was effectively a property tax and was illegal because it was not based on value. In the resulting class-action lawsuit, Chatham County must pay approximately $30 million in refunds and interest.

The ruling has potential consequences for other jurisdictions with similar fees. These counties may need to rely on property tax revenue to fund fire services, which could result in increased costs for homeowners and businesses. The Georgia Municipal Association noted this represents a tax shift, placing costs on property taxpayers alone.