The 2024 millage of 5.283 is little more than half the 8.974 it was in 2017. Not counting the 2.5 mils of fire tax on unincorporated Lowndes County since 2021, and of course the 1 mil to the Industrial Authority and the 1.25 mils to Parks and Rec, which have not changed since 2008.

About 85% of the county’s revenues come from taxes. About 57% of that comes from property taxes, and about 31% Local Option Sales Tax (LOST).

Of expenditures, about 41% goes to Public Safety (Sheriff Department, Jail, etc.), about 12% to Juducial (courts), and about 18% to General Government.

Collage @ LCC Budget Hearing 23 June 2025

Commissioner Demarcus Marshall asked how the rising cost of gasoline was dealt with. Finance Director Stephanie Black said there was some leeway built into the budget, but if the price rise exceeds that, at the end of the year, additional funds would have to be allocated.

Commissioner Scottie Orenstein wondered about the fire services budget. FD Black said it is going down 10%, because new fire trucks were moved into a SPLOST line item.

County Manager Paige Dukes said a few words about property assessments that were mailed out by Tax Assessors staff. I think this was about the recent opt-out of the county from the statewide homestead exemption (the county actually has better homestead exemptions).

Almost no citizens attended, and none asked any questions.

Below is the LAKE video of the session, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist of this Lowndes County Commission presentation at 9AM this morning.

See also the public notice of this public hearing.

Much to my surprise, the Lowndes County did actually put the presentation slides on the county website:
https://lowndescounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/4079/Budget-Public-Hearing-FY-2026-Presentation

That’s under Departments, Finance, and under Quick Links: FY 2026 Budget Public Hearing Presentation. Thanks to Finance Director Stephanie Black for putting it there. A copy is on the LAKE website, and images of each slide are below.

• Presentation of the Proposed FY 2026 Budget
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/Osq5B81W4N4

  Lowndes County Board of Commissioners – Budget Session – 2025-06-23

  The powerpoint presentation on the county web site: https://lowndescounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/4079/Budget-Public-Hearing-FY-2026-Presentation

  Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).

Here is a LAKE video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiELVlmoJq20lc0_CUMHQDJ3&si=Cu5phEbdifGikD99

-jsq

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Stills

Presentation of the Proposed FY 2026 Budget

PS

Cover
PDF

BCbF

Budget Comparison by Fund
PDF

GFO

General Fund Overview
PDF

BH

Budget Highlights
PDF

GFR

General Fund Revenues
PDF

GFTR

General Fund Tax Revenues
PDF

GFE

General Fund Expenditures
PDF

WdymG

Where does you money go:
PDF

QC

Questions & Comments
PDF

Short Link: