Budget, Tax, Sewage Pump Station, Road Abandonment, Zika @ LCC 2017-06-26

They’re going to adopt the county budget Tuesday, after talking about it this morning at 8:30 AM, after complaining that nobody showed up at a budget hearing they didn’t announce. Also after refusing budget requests due to revenue continuing down for several years, and not being willing to adjust taxes.

The VDT summarized, Thomas Lynn, VDT, 23 May 2017, County Manager: Proposed budget austere; Most new funding requests denied. And Thomas Lynn, 22 June 2017, Public absent from county budget hearing. No wonder, since the county didn’t even post the meeting online until that same morning, with no agenda. The VDT wasn’t there most of the time, but Gretchen was, with the LAKE video camera.

LAKE video by Gretchen Quarterman of Harrison Tillman and Stephanie Black about Budget at the Lowndes County Annual Planning Meeting Day 1 @ LCC 2017-02-16
Photo: Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE of Harrison Tillman and Stephanie Black about Budget at the Lowndes County Annual Planning Meeting Day 1 @ LCC 2017-02-16

Gretchen also videoed all three days of the county’s March 2017 budget meetings in which it received those budget requests. The VDT didn’t mention the elephant in the room, which the county mentioned in its 28 March 2017 Goals meeting: tax revenue is down and inconsistent.

Back at their 17 February 2017 Planning Meeting Day 2 they got more specific, including that SPLOST 7 was voted with 25M for road but because of low sales tax collections the actual number is 19M+. In Planning Meeting Day 1 they Expenditures were under budget, but tax revenues were more below budget. Not just for last year: SPLOST revenues have been steadily down the past four or five years. Speculation is because more people are buying online. It could also be because people have less money to spend.

Here’s the agenda.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

  1. Call to Order
  2. Invocation
  3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
  4. Minutes for Approval
    1. Work Session- June 12, 2017
    2. Regular Session- June 13, 2017
  5. For Consideration
    1. Abandonment of a portion of Ponce de Leon Trail (CR 374)
      Accept the petition and advertise for a public hearing

      Documents:Abandonment of a portion of Ponce de Leon Trail (CR 374).pdf

    2. Adopt Resolution accepting infrastucture for Creekside West Subdivision Phase IV
      Adopt the Resolution

      Documents:Adopt Resolution accepting Infrastructure for Creekside West Subdivision Phase IV.pdf

    3. Hotel/Motel Tax FY2018 County Budget Plan
      Approval of budget plan

      Documents:Hotel Motel Tax FY2018 County Budget.pdf

    4. Adoption of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget
      Board’s Pleasure

      Documents:Adoption of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget.pdf

    5. Motorola Support Agreement for Offendertrak and PMDC
      Approval of agreement

      Documents:Motorola Support Agreement for Offendertrak and PMDC.pdf

    6. Easement Agreement Marlene Meeks Fairway Circle
      Approval of easement agreement

      Documents:Easement Agreement Marlene Meeks Fairway Circle.pdf

    7. Relocation of Gate, Utility Pole, and Light Pole at Val-Tech Pump Station, and Quit -Claim Deed to GDOT
      Approval of transaction and quit- claim deed

      Documents:Relocation of gate, utility pole, and light pole at Val-Tech pump station, and Quit -Claim Deed to GDOT.pdf

  6. Reports- County Manager- Zika Presentation by Ken Lowery
  7. Citizens Wishing to be Heard-Please State Your Name and Address
  8. Adjournment

-jsq

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