Around this time of year, locals and out-of-state travelers alike flock to Tybee Island for some fun in the sun. Beyond the day-trippers, there are those who stay for a few days or weeks, often in one of Tybee's short-term vacation rentals or STVRs, a house or condo unit that is rented for 30 days or less.
As much as tourism is fueling the small island's economy, it's also increasingly stretching its resources, said City Manager Shawn Gillen. Tybee's proposed 2022 budget aims to leverage vacation rental demand to ease some of the burden by increasing the annual STVR vacation fees by $400.