ATLANTA (WSAV) — Local and state officials gathered in Atlanta on Wednesday for Savannah-Chatham Day.
The annual gathering is a chance for Savannah and Chatham County's elected officials to talk policy with state representatives and map out their legislative priorities for the year.
"Savannah-Chatham Day is almost like the Superbowl of policy when it comes to Chatham County. Here, you're going to meet every elected body, whether it's school board, municipalities, and be able to engage with them," District 6 Chatham County Commissioner Aaron Whitely said.
During their meeting at the capitol, local leaders highlighted some of the most pressing issues for their constituents, like infrastructure woes.
"Our drainage is in need of repair. As we know, we go underwater very quickly when it rains. That is due to the repairs, the new infrastructure that we need," Dr. Estella Shabazz, District 5 Savannah Alderwoman and Mayor Pro-Tem, said.
Others spoke about hyper-local propositions.
"[It's] a sales tax that would apply only to the city of Tybee Island, " Tybee Island Mayor Brian West, said. "A municipal local option sales tax would be for infrastructure needs for the city. That would be for water, sewer, and storm water needs. Our infrastructure is very old. It's been neglected for a long time."
Affordable housing was also a focus during Wednesday's discussions under the gold dome.
"Our inventory, it's lower than the standard of what we need in reference to the growth in the City of Savannah," Shabazz said.
Issues that matter to families, like childcare and access to education, were on the docket as well.
"We're going to have to work to solve the childcare crisis and the affordability of childcare in this state," State Sen. Derek Mallow, (Ga.-2), said. "So, I'm working on a couple pieces of legislation to create a fund, to fund childcare in this state. We're hoping to tie it to sports betting. There's only two ways to raise revenue - to raise taxes or to raise revenue, and we have to raise revenue."