To our Berwick Lakes and Hampton Place Residents:

It has been brought to our attention that you may have received multiple invoices for your 2023 Fire Fee. Every resident in Berwick Lakes and Hampton Place are within Pooler Fire-Rescue's AOR (area of responsibility) and should only pay a fire fee to the City of Pooler/Pooler Fire-Rescue. Invoices were mailed in January for year 2023. If you have not yet received your invoice, please call (912) 748-7012 or the Finance Department at (912) 748-4800 so we may update your information.

If you receive a fire fee invoice from Chatham County, please DO NOT PAY. Unfortunately, the information on file with the Chatham County Board of Assessors mistakenly lists your address as Savannah 31419, and not Pooler 31322. As the property owner, you will need to contact the Chatham County Board of Assessors at (912) 652-7271 to update your information so you will no longer be billed.

Questions? Contact Stacy Barre Weston, Fire Coordinator, at (912) 748-7012 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Notice is hereby given that the Mayor and Council of the City of Pooler, GA are holding a planning retreat including an executive session to discuss personnel, legal, and/or real estate matters on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt, 3300 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305.

We are happy to announce that you are now able to process and pay your Occupational Tax Renewal online. Please note that a 3% convenience fee will be assessed for all online payments. Allow 7-10 business days for processing. If you have any questions, please contact the Business Registration office at (912) 748-7261 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The next municipal election for the City of Pooler will be held Tuesday, November 7, 2023. There will be seven positions open: one (1) Mayor and six (6) City Councilmembers. These are non-partisan, at-large (city-wide) positions. The City of Pooler has no districts.

DECIDING TO RUN
Congratulations on your decision! Begin by reviewing the requirements and time commitment for the office you seek. In order to qualify for the position of Mayor or Councilmember, you must meet the following:

• Shall be a citizen of the City of Pooler for 12 months prior to the date of election
• Shall be a registered voter and qualified to vote in municipal elections of the City
• Shall continue to reside within the city limits during the period of service
• Shall not be ineligible for public office pursuant to O.C.G.A. 45-2-1

Four-year terms of office will begin January 1, 2024 and will expire on December 31, 2027. City Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month, with two planning retreats held annually. The Mayor may also call special meetings or public hearings as needed. In addition, those elected are required by law to attend and satisfactorily complete a training program for newly elected municipal officials, offered annually in February or March.

Interested candidates should familiarize themselves with the City Charter, City Codes/Ordinances, and the guidelines set forth by the Georgia Government Transparency Campaign Finance Commission. Training workshops are also available on the GGT&CFC website.

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS & COMMITTEES

Once you have decided to run, you will complete and submit a Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions (DOI) form with the City Clerk prior to soliciting/accepting any campaign contributions. This may be done at any time after January 1, 2023 and prior to the Qualifying Period.

Candidates with a Campaign Committee should also file a Registration Form for a Campaign Committee. You will file this form with the State. Both forms may be obtained through the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission website. Please note that there are campaign contribution limits.

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION DISCLOSURE REPORTS

Filing your DOI form will trigger your obligation to begin filing Campaign Contribution Disclosure Reports. The Ethics in Government Act requires public disclosure of campaign financing and significant private interest of public officers and candidates for public office. Elected officials and any candidate seeking elected office in Georgia, or the chairperson or treasurer of their campaign committee, must file campaign contribution disclosure reports. Anyone who has filed a Declaration of Intention must file these reports, even if there has been no financial activity. These forms must be filed with the City Clerk and in compliance with the following filing schedule during an election year: January 31, April 30, June 30, September 30, October 25, and December 31. Forms are available online.

Candidates who plan not to exceed $2,500 in contributions or expenditures will need to complete an affidavit stating such.

QUALIFYING PERIOD
To officially be considered a Candidate for Municipal Office, you must qualify for the office by submitting a Notice of Candidacy form to the City Clerk during the Qualifying Period. That period for the 2023 election shall be in the Office of the City Clerk, Pooler City Hall, 100 US Highway 80 SW, Pooler, GA 31322 from Monday, August 21, 2023 through Friday, August 25, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Be sure to bring a valid photo ID and all of the appropriate documentation. Qualifying Packets containing forms, resources, and other information will be available in both paper and digital formats in the office of the City Clerk beginning August 1, 2023.

QUALIFYING FEE (3% of current salary)
A Qualifying Fee must be paid in order to participate in the Qualifying Period. For the 2023 municipal election, this fee will be $432.00 for the office of Mayor and $216.00 for the office of Councilmember. If unable to pay, a candidate may submit a pauper’s affidavit and qualifying petition.

ELECTION
The City of Pooler contracts with the Chatham County Board of Elections to conduct our municipal elections. You may contact their office, as well as the Chatham County Board of Registrars (Voter Registration Office), for election information and the registered voters list.

POST-ELECTION
As a candidate, whether you are successful or unsuccessful, you must file a final Campaign Contribution Disclosure Form with the City Clerk’s office by December 31, 2023. This form will be included in the Qualifying Packet.

The City of Pooler has received its verification letter for the operation of Pooler Fire Rescue Station 5 located at 204 Nordic Way. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.