Turns out there was another agenda item for the Special Called Meeting to Adopt the Proposed FY 2027 Budget, 8:30 AM, Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Lowndes County Commission. They did post the agenda on the county’s website, on June 26, 2026, the Friday before the Tuesday meeting.

On that Tuesday, first they adopted a budget plan for Hotel-Motel Proceeds for Fiscal Year 2027. That required first getting a plan from the Valdosta-Lowndes County Convention Center and Tourism Authority (VLCCCTA) their plan for use of the proceeds provided for tourism, conventions, and trade shows.

Finance Director Stephanie Black said, “You have a copy of the Authority’s budget plan and a proposed county budget plan for 2027 for adoption.”

I can’t find either of those documents on the county’s website nor on the VLCCCTA website. Naturally, LAKE has filed an open records request for those documents. Meanwhile, fortunately Malia Thomas was there to report for the Valdosta Daily Times and apparently got a copy of those documents; see below

Videos: Special Called Meeting to Adopt the Proposed FY 2027 Budget & Hotel-Motel Budget @ LCC 2026-06-30

They unanimously adopted the hotel-motel plan and then the county budget.

Why a special called meeting when they could have done these things in a Regular Session? If I’m not mistaken, the state requires counties to adopt a budget by the end of June. So they had an additional meeting on the last possible day to adopt these documents.

The entire meeting took 2 minutes and 14 seconds. Gretchen Quarterman drove an hour round trip to take this LAKE video for you.

The county could have videoed this meeting and put it on its YouTube channel the same way it handles its Regular Sessions. But it did not.

https://www.youtube.com/@lowndescountyboardofcommis7341

So here is the LAKE video of the June 30, 2026, Special Called Meeting to Approve 2027 Budget:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYr6CvpzLv2c&si=0LIfN6vq-MpzgZ8I

Malia Thomas, Valdosta Daily Times, July 3, 2026, County approves tourism budget,

VALDOSTA — The Lowndes County Commission approved the utilization of hotel/motel tax proceeds in the upcoming fiscal year.

According to Georgia statute, the Board of Commissioners is required to obtain a budget plan from the Conference Center and Tourism Authority, outlining the use of hotel/motel funds to promote tourism, conventions and trade shows.

The budget plan is to be included as part of the county budget plan.

The approved budget plan for the fiscal year includes $700,000 in budgeted proceeds, with the expenditures allocated as:

Transfer to Lowndes County’s Special Services Fund: $300,000.

This amount will be transferred from the hotel/motel tax proceeds to the special services fund. The special services fund primarily supports services provided by the county for the benefit of the unincorporated area. It also contributes to the county’s share of jointly funded services with one or more municipalities.

Transfer to Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority: $300,000.

The Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority will receive this allocation to promote tourism, conventions and trade shows in accordance with the FY 2023 budget plan. The budget plan has been made an integral part of the county’s overall budget plan.

Transfer to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority: $100,000.

The Parks and Recreation Authority will receive the funding to cover capital costs and operating expenses for the parks and recreation facilities owned and operated by the authority.

The Fiscal Year 2024 budget plan outlines specific allocations for the utilization of the lodging tax proceeds. These allocations are:

Marketing: $195,530.

Group sales/trade shows: $15,335.

Travel: $8,481.

Full-time salaries: $54,001.

Full-time benefits: $13,043.

Legal and accounting fees: $9,110.

Payroll taxes: $4,500.

Here is the agenda.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Special Called Meeting to Adopt the Proposed FY 2027 Budget
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 8:30 a.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

1. Call To Order
2. For Consideration
   1. Budget Plan for Hotel Motel Proceeds for Fiscal Year 2027
      Recommended Action: Adopt Documents:
   2. Adoption of Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget
      Recommended Action: Adopt Documents:
3. Adjournment

Agenda: Budget Adoption 2026-06-30 –Lowndes County Commission

Finance Director Stephanie Black 2026-06-30 –LAKE Video

Lowndes County Commission 2026-06-30 –LAKE Video

-jsq

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