Category Archives: Law

Videos: Opt out of HB 581 and increase local homestead exemptions, Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Regular 2025-02-25

The Lowndes County Commission added two important agenda items early in their February 25, 2025, meeting: 5.b. Vote on opting out of HB-581 and 5.c. Resolution to increase local homestead exemption. They approved both unanimously, although there is more to do at the state level; see below for that.

But why did the Commissioners wait until this meeting to add those items, when they’ve known for many weeks they would have to vote on them?

Collage @ LCC 25 February 2025

They unanimously approved the few other items.

Can somebody explain why the County Manager does not provide a written report? I, for one, cannot remember all the stuff she runs through in a few minutes. She is clearly reading from notes. She could just make at least a bullet list, or have one of her assistants do so.

One citizen spoke: 8. CWTBH – Kelly Saxon – flooding, hurricane recovery, cooperation.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

Videos: Final Public Hearing: Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, HB 581 @ LCC 2025-02-24

2025-03-25: Videos: Opt out of HB 581 and increase local homestead exemptions, Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Regular 2025-02-25.

Yes, the Lowndes County Commission will vote on the subject today, Tuesday, February 25, although that item is not yet on its agenda.

Yesterday they held the third and final Public Hearing about opting out of the homestead exemption scheme passed by the state legislature as HB 581. No citizens spoke, and very few even attended.

Collage @ LCC 24 February 2025

The county already has better homestead exemptions for both people younger than 65 years and older. Staying in would have no option of opting out later. Opting out leaves the possibility of opting in later.

For the previous Public Hearings, see Continue reading →

Videos: Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Work 2025-02-24

Update 2025-03-25: Videos: Opt out of HB 581 and increase local homestead exemptions, Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Regular 2025-02-25.

Update 2025-02-25: Videos: Final Public Hearing: Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, HB 581 @ LCC 2025-02-24.

The Work Session yesterday morning took the Lowndes County Commission four minutes. Most of that was two officials explaining the Accountability Court Grant.

Collage @ LCC 24 February 2025

County Manager Paige Dukes asked “for an executive session for attorney client privilege to consult and meet with legal council pertaining to pending claims brought against the county possibly.” Usually we hear “for current or pending litigation”. It must be important, since they had three attorneys in their executive session.

They vote this evening at 5:30 PM.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the agenda and board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request. Continue reading →

Final Public Hearing: Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, HB 581 @ LCC 2025-02-24

Update 2025-02-25: Videos: Final Public Hearing: Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, HB 581 @ LCC 2025-02-24.

The Lowndes County Commission is considering doing what the Lowndes County School System is doing: opting out of the homestead exemption scheme passed by the state legislature as HB 581. The county already has better homestead exemptions for both people younger than 65 years and older. Staying in would have no option of opting out later. Opting out leaves the possibility of opting in later.

Final Public Hearing, Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, HB 581 @ LCC 2025-02-24

At the previous two hearing, Commissioners did not seem in favor of the state’s idea of an additional one-cent sales tax to reimburse property owners.

LAKE videos and minutes of the two previous Public Hearings are here: Continue reading →

Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC 2025-02-24

Update 2024-02-25: Videos: Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Work 2025-02-24.

It’s a slow Lowndes County Commission week when the most expensive item on the agenda is a truck.

Accountability Court Grant, truck for Magistrate Court, Lowndes County Cmmission, February 24 & 25, 2025

The other item with “BUDGET IMPACT” listed is a grant with no match, which means it brings money in to the county government.

Cost	What
$39,852.00	Bid for One Truck for Magistrate Court
$-7,500.00	Lowndes County Accountability Court Grant Approval
$32,352.00	Total

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website. Continue reading →

Videos: Lowndes County Considers Opting Out of House Bill 581 Public Hearing 2025-02-11

Update 2025-02-24: Final Public Hearing: Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, HB 581 @ LCC 2025-02-24.

Lowndes County Commissioners and staff emphasized that they were working on further homested tax exemptions for seniors, as is the Lowndes County School System, without need for the state’s exemption. And they did not seem in favor of the state’s idea of an additional one-cent sales tax to reimburse property owners.

Here are LAKE videos of yesterday’s second Public Hearing about Lowndes County considering opting out of the statewide homestead exemption legislated last year by HB 581, effective January 1, 2025.

Three citizens spoke. The first two seemed to be addressing some other meeting. The Chairman had to tell the second speaker that her school system concerns should be brought to the school board.

The third speaker was more to the subject: Pam Hubbard, at 9 minutes and 50 seconds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOfqnu_BsvY&t=590s

Opt out of GA HB 581? Public Hearing 2025-02-11, Re: Homestead Property Tax Exemption, Lowndes County Commission

A final Public Hearing will be Monday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m.

The School System already had its Public Hearings.

The Lowndes County Commission will vote on the subject on Tuesday, February 25.

So go to that last public hearing and speak up, or call or write your Lowndes County Commissioner.

After the videos below, there is a LAKE video playlist.

For other related material (the bill, the Lowndes County press release, the ACCG and GMA position, etc.), see the LAKE blog post on the first such Public Hearing:
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/?p=24786 Continue reading →

Lowndes County Considers Opting Out of House Bill 581 @ LCC Public Hearing 2025-02-10

Update 2025-02-13: The second one: Videos: Lowndes County Considers Opting Out of House Bill 581 Public Hearing 2025-02-11.

Here are LAKE videos of yesterday’s Public Hearing about Lowndes County considering opting out of the statewide homestead exemption legislated last year by HB 581, effective January 1, 2025.

There will be another Public Hearing this evening, Tuesday, February 11 at 6:00 p.m.

A final Public Hearing will be Monday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m.

The Lowndes County Commission will vote on the subject on Tuesday, February 25.

So go to one of these public hearings and speak up, or call or write your Lowndes County Commissioner.

Collage @ LCC Public Hearing 10 February 2025

After the videos below, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, there is a LAKE video playlist.

Plus a link to the LAKE video of the Lowndes County Commission decision on January 28, 2025, to hold these Public Hearings, and a copy of the Lowndes County press release announcing these Public Hearings.

As well as the text of the referendum that appeared on the November 5, 2024, general election ballot, the text of HB 581, and links to guidance by ACCG and GMA,

Personally, I find this point alone convincing:

Lowndes County already has a $6,000 homestead exemption for homeowners up to 65 years of age and a $10,000 homestead exemption for homeowners 65 and older. These exemptions are significantly more than the state statutory exemptions.

FYI, I have reason to believe the City of Valdosta is equally concerned about HB 581. Continue reading →

Videos: Tax Assessor and Land Bank appointments, Assessment rate, VAWA, alcohol @ LCC Regular 2024-01-28

Update 2025-02-11: Lowndes County Considers Opting Out of House Bill 581 @ LCC Public Hearing 2025-02-10.

Commissioner Joyce Evans will rotate back into the Vice Chair position. On January 28, 2025, the Lowndes County Commission also reappointed to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Land Bank Authority.

Collage @ LCC 28 January 2025

In a break with tradition, the incumbent was not reappointed as a Tax Assessor. Gretchen Quarterman, the incumbent (although technically not, since the County Commission did not do reappointments before her term expired at the end of 2024) got a nomination and two votes. James Michael (Mike) Tanner also got a nommination and two votes. Commissioner Scottie Orenstein was not present for that item, since he came in late. That left Chairman Bill Slaughter to break the tie, and he voted for Tanner.

The previous morning, Commissioner Demarcus Marshall said he wanted to ask questions of the applicants for 6.a. Appointment to the Board of Tax Assessors. Chairman Bill Slaughter said they weren’t doing that in the Work Session because both applications were not there, but they can do it in the Regular Session Tuesday.

Mike Tanner did not attend the Regular Session. Gretchen Quarterman was there as usual, videoing the meeting.

The voted on the added agenda item, 8.d. Publish the intent to opt out of HB 581, to do that. That item and all the others were approved unanimously, except as noted above.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few comments by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

Packet: Tax Assessor and Land Bank appointments, Assessment rate, VAWA, alcohol @ LCC 2025-01-27

Update 2025-02-10: Videos: Tax Assessor and Land Bank appointments, Assessment rate, VAWA, alcohol @ LCC Regular 2025-01-28.

Finally received on February 6, 2025, the board packet materials are on the LAKE website for the January 27 and 28, 2025, Lowndes County Commission meetings.

Packet: Collage @ LCC 2025-01-27

See also the agenda and the LAKE videos of the Work Session; Regular Session up soon.

Lowndes County included this note with the board materials:

The January 27-28, 2025 meeting packet is attached. We did not receive the email on January 25th. Thank you for resending it.

As I mentioned in response: Continue reading →

Videos: Tax Assessor and Land Bank appointments, Assessment rate, VAWA, alcohol @ LCC Work

Update 2025-02-10: Videos: Tax Assessor and Land Bank appointments, Assessment rate, VAWA, alcohol @ LCC Regular 2025-01-28.

Update 2025-01-28: Added back the inadvertently omitted video of the 8.c. Approval of the Solicitor General’s FY2025 VAWA Grant Application.

At this morning’s Lowndes County Commission Work Session, Commissioner Demarcus Marshall said he wants to ask questions of the applications for 6.a. Appointment to the Board of Tax Assessors. Chairman Bill Slaughter said they weren’t doing that in the Work Session because both applications were not there, but they can do it in the Regular Session Tuesday evening.

Collage @ LCC 27 January 2025

The Chairman asked to add an agenda item: Consideration for discussion of opting out of new homestead exemption law. Deadline to decide and paperwork to Department of Revenue is March 1, 2025. He noted he voted for this law, but he isn’t sure he completely understood it. For the county consider opting out, they first need to announce that possibility and ask the public for input. They discussed this for almost eight minutes.