Maybe Georgia should fund mental health facilities instead of local jails having to act as mental hospitals. On a positive note, Agriculture is an $81M industry in Lowndes County. Law, taxes, and education, in the second day which was only in the morning, of the three days of “Budget Hearings” which aren’t really hearings because nobody from the public can speak and they don’t have a budget to hear yet. See yesterday for the agenda. Here are links to videos of each item with some notes by Gretchen, followed by a video playlist. And one more day to go today.

• Juvenile Court – Judge Council

  Video. Judge Council presented the Juvenile Court budget. Much of the cost of the court is related to providing legal representation for children and parents in many cases.

  He spoke about the current grants that the court and how those programs are working. He asked the commission to consider instituting a curfew for children under 14. He also is looking for grant money for a after school program for at risk children.

• Sheriff’s Department – Enforcement

  Video. Sheriff Chris Prine presented the Sheriff’s Department Budget. Costs include replacement of vehicles with over 150K miles, uniforms, the local crime lab, changes to the contract with the Regional Commission for records management which facilitates working with Valdosta Police Department.

• Sheriff’s Department – Jail

  Video. Sheriff Chris Prine discussed salaries for jail personnel, how much other counties are charged to house inmates at the jail, use of the new jail (520) and the old jail. Currently have 680 prisoners so the old jail is still in use. Because there are no facilities for mental health treatment, those with mental health issues end up in jail and they need treatment and the cost can be high.

• Magistrate Court – Judge Joni Parker

  Video. Judge Parker talked about how using technology in her department saves time, increases safety and still provides transparent access to all court proceedings.

• Tax Commissioners Office

  Video. Customer Service is number one priority. Nearly every citizen comes into the tax office to pay property or tag tax and timely, courteous customer service is important.

• Extension Service – Jake Price

  Video. Extension Service Truck has over 200K miles and could use replacement. Retention of FVSU Agent Joshua Dawson is important.

  Agriculture is an $81M industry in Lowndes County.

Here’s a video playlist:

Videos: Day 2 of Budget Hearings
Day 2,
Budget Hearing, Lowndes County Commission (LCC Budget),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
327 N. Ashley St., Valdosta, GA 31601, 4 March 2015.

-jsq

Short Link: