Voters across the state rejected the proposed land transfer tax, shooting down the referendum in 16 counties. Chatham County voted 8,265 against and 3,715 for. Total voter turnout in Chatham County was about 32 percent.

This year the state gave counties a choice between a 0.4 percent land transfer tax or a sales tax increase of a quarter-cent. Chatham County commissioners had pledged to give land transfer tax proceeds, a projected $3.5 million in 2009, to schools.