{"id":12453,"date":"2015-02-26T08:20:41","date_gmt":"2015-02-26T13:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?p=12453"},"modified":"2015-02-26T08:23:27","modified_gmt":"2015-02-26T13:23:27","slug":"videos-esplost-v-kickoff-meeting-esplost-2015-02-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2015\/02\/videos-esplost-v-kickoff-meeting-esplost-2015-02-24.html","title":{"rendered":"Videos: ESPLOST V kickoff meeting @ ESPLOST 2015-02-24"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/VPBe_L7XxMs\/mqdefault.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nCo-Chair Jerome Tucker emphasized that ESPLOST helping\r\npublic schools also helps economic development.\r\nSee below for who we now know are the\r\ncommittee members for the Educational Special Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST).\r\nIt&#8217;s mysterious why that information wasn&#8217;t in\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2015\/02\/esplost-v-kickoff-meeting-today-esplost-2015-02-24.html\">\r\nthe PR before the meeting<\/a>,\r\nbut now we know, since Gretchen went and took the videos\r\nand collected the flyers you&#8217;ll find below.\r\n<p>\r\nEarly voting already started that same day and continues through March 13th,\r\nwith the final Election Day 17 March 2015.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center;font-size:80%\">\r\n<a title=\"800x600 Crowd picture, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?attachment_id=12445\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border:none\" alt=\"600x450 Crowd picture, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2d4ff1d226fadca094bcf11135e473b3.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<blockquote style=\"font-size:100%\">\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center\">\r\nLowndes\/Valdosta Citizens for Excellence in Education\r\n<br>\r\nEducation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax\r\n<br>\r\nFor Lowndes County Schools and Valdosta City Schools<!--more-->\r\n\r\n\r\n<br>\r\n<a title=\"2496x3232 Agenda, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?attachment_id=12417\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"300x388 Agenda, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/c66d9ef0ec2378734681c69b8528f173.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nJohn Eunice, Co-Chair\r\n<br>\r\nJerome Tucker, Co-Chair\r\n<br>\r\nWill Kemp, Treasurer\r\n<\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tr><td>Lisa Aguero<\/td><td> Willie Houseal <\/td><td> Barbara Slucumb\r\n<tr><td>Sam Allen <\/td><td> Mike &#8220;Nub&#8221; Nelson <\/td><td> Ben Smith\r\n<tr><td>Katherine Courson <\/td><td> Alyssa Pate <\/td><td> Brian Sumner\r\n<tr><td>Dan Davis <\/td><td> Suzan Prince <\/td><td> Susan Sumner\r\n<tr><td>Jason Dove <\/td><td> Marty Rodgers <\/td><td> Fred Wetherington\r\n<tr><td>Heather Ferguson <\/td><td> Jeff Sikes <\/td><td> Jeff Wooley\r\n<tr><td>Tim Golden\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center\">\r\nESPLOST V KlCKOFF\/PRESS CONFERENCE\r\n<br>\r\nFebruary 24, 2015\r\n<br>\r\nValdosta City Hall Annex\r\n<br>\r\n300 N. Lee Street\r\n<br>\r\n5:00 p.m.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tr><th style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a name=\"Welcome\" href=\"#Welcome\">\r\nWelcome<\/a>\r\n<\/th><td>\r\n<a title=\"video: Welcome\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VPBe_L7XxMs&#038;index=1&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"Welcome\" src=\"http:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/VPBe_L7XxMs\/default.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nJerome Tucker, John Eunice\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VPBe_L7XxMs&#038;index=1&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\">Video.<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<tr><th style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a name=\"Opening-Remarks\" href=\"#Opening-Remarks\">\r\nOpening Remarks<\/a>\r\n<\/th><td>\r\n<a title=\"video: Opening Remarks\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_p-rBZdEaYk&#038;index=2&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"Opening Remarks\" src=\"http:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/_p-rBZdEaYk\/default.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nBrian Browning, Chair the of Lowndes BOE\r\n<br>\r\nVanassa Flucas, Chair of the Valdosta BOE\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_p-rBZdEaYk&#038;index=2&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\">Video.<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<tr><th style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a name=\"ESPLOST-V-Overview\" href=\"#ESPLOST-V-Overview\">\r\nESPLOST V Overview<\/a>\r\n<\/th><td>\r\n<a title=\"video: ESPLOST V Overview\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=14japDOrymI&#038;index=3&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"ESPLOST V Overview\" src=\"http:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/14japDOrymI\/default.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nMr. E. Martin Roesch, Valdosta City Superintendent\r\n<br>\r\nMr. Wes Taylor, Lowndes County Superintendent\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=14japDOrymI&#038;index=3&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\">Video.<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<tr><th style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a name=\"Adjourn\" href=\"#Adjourn\">\r\nAdjourn<\/a>\r\n<\/th><td>\r\n<a title=\"video: Adjourn\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BHJW2lH7pQg&#038;index=4&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"Adjourn\" src=\"http:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/BHJW2lH7pQg\/default.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nJohn Eunice, Jerome Tucker\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BHJW2lH7pQg&#038;index=4&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\">Video.<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center\">\r\nELECTION: March 17, 2015 &mdash; 7 a.m. &#8211; 7 p.m.\r\n<br>\r\nEARLY VOTING: February 23 &mdash; March 13, 2015\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<p>\r\nHere&#8217;s\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\">\r\na video playlist:<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center;font-size:80%\">\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/videoseries?list=PLshUv86fYkiEtmLWcmXr1IwZwqQ9s1OUi\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\r\n<br>\r\nVideos: ESPLOST V kickoff meeting\r\n<br>\r\nESPLOST V Kickoff Meeting, Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST),\r\n<br>Jerome Tucker, John Eunice,\r\n<br>\r\nVideo by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),\r\n<br>\r\nValdosta City Hall Annex, 300 N. Lee Street, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 24 February 2015.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center\">\r\nSPLOST V\r\n<br>\r\nFrequently Asked Questions\r\n<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>\r\n<a title=\"2496x3264 What is an Education SPLOST, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?attachment_id=12425\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"300x392 What is an Education SPLOST, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/61ac559e7f35cc2628e8d5e3e1d4f47f.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<strong>\r\nWhat is an Education SPLOST (ESPLOST)?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nAn Education Special Purpose Local Option\r\nSales Tax (ESPLOST) allows local school districts\r\nthe option to ask the voters for the ability to\r\nlevy and collect a one percent sales tax to fund\r\nschool facility and equipment improvements.\r\nIt can be used to pay for capital projects or to\r\nretire debt. The penny collected spreads the\r\nresponsibility of educating our children to all\r\ncitizens and visitors of our community-anyone\r\nwho spends money in Valdosta and Lowndes\r\nCounty is funding the ESPLOST.\r\n<li>\r\n<strong>\r\nWhen is the ESPLOST vote?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nTuesday, March\r\n17, 2015 is the Election Day. The polls will be\r\nopen from 7:00 am. to 7:00 pm. Early Voting:\r\nFebruary23&mdash; March 13, 2015\r\n<li>\r\n<strong>\r\nWould the proposed ESPLOST be a tax\r\nincrease?\r\nNO!\r\n<\/strong>\r\nIf approved, the sales tax would\r\nsimply remain at its current level. A &#8220;yes&#8221; vote\r\nwould basically extend the current 1% sales tax\r\nfor education for an additional five years or until\r\n$135 million (total for Valdosta City Schools and\r\nLowndes County Schools) has been collected\r\nwhichever comes first. Collection of the\r\nESPLOST extension would begin only after the\r\ncurrent ESPLOST ends September 30, 2017.\r\n<li>\r\n<a title=\"2496x3232 Basis for ESPLOST Referendum, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?attachment_id=12429\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"300x388 Basis for ESPLOST Referendum, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/51a87499c7616d30d0ce12c78b9b2898.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<strong>\r\nWhy do we need to extend our current\r\nESPLOST?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nThe Valdosta City Schools Board\r\nof Education has made, many improvements\r\nin school facilities with the previous ESPLOST.\r\nIf the citizens approve to extend the current\r\nESPLOST, funds will be used to construct a\r\nnew Valdosta High School Complex; complete\r\nthe additions, renovations, and modifications\r\nto existing elementary and middle schools;\r\npurchase instructional materials and textbooks;\r\nand purchase school buses for the district. Our\r\ncitizens have actively supported education\r\nfor a number of years, and the passage of this\r\nESPLOST would be a strong demonstration of\r\ncontinued school support by our community.\r\n<li>\r\n<strong>\r\nWhy an ESPLOST?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nThe ESPLOST is not a\r\nproperty tax. lt provides a method of funding\r\nthe cost of educational improvements\r\nthat everyone, not just property owners,\r\ncontributes. Additionally, the sales tax is paid\r\nby everyone who shops or stays in Valdosta\r\nand Lowndes County, including our numerous\r\nvisitors. Research indicates that over half of the\r\nfunds raised from sales tax collections come\r\nfrom non&mdash;residents of our community.\r\n<li>\r\n<strong>\r\nWhat would the school system do with the\r\nmoney raised from the ESPLOST extension?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nAs stated previously, the Board of Education\r\nwould continue facility and equipment\r\nimprovements. A new Valdosta High School\r\nComplex would be built; additions, renovations\r\nand modifications would take place at all\r\nValdosta City Schools&#8217; facilities to include,\r\nbut not limited to, all elementary and middle\r\nschools. The Board would also purchase\r\nnew technology, school buses, textbooks,\r\ninstructional materials, band equipment,\r\nathletic upgrades, and safety &amp; security\r\nequipment.\r\n<li>\r\n<strong>\r\nHow much money would be raised and\r\nhow long would this sales tax be in place?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nThe ESPLOST extension for Valdosta City and\r\nLowndes County is for a limit of $135 million\r\nor 5 years, whichever comes first. The sales tax\r\nrevenue is divided between the two school\r\nsystems based on enrollment. Valdosta City\r\nSchools expects to receive up to a maximum\r\nof $58,860,000.00 from the Valdosta\/Lowndes\r\nESPLOST.\r\n<li>\r\n<a title=\"2496x3232 ESPLOST Proposed Projects, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?attachment_id=12433\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"300x388 ESPLOST Proposed Projects, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/aa51cb16d12e3300ad41e82fae1203c4.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<strong>\r\nWhy is the school system proposing to\r\nsell bonds in the ESPLOST extension?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nBy selling bonds, the school system will be able\r\nto immediately address some of its most dire\r\nneeds. Bond money would allow the system to\r\nstart construction on several projects instead\r\nof waiting for the proceeds to be collected.The\r\nsale of bonds also helps lock out construction\r\ncost inflation as presently interest rates are very\r\nfavorable.\r\n<li>\r\n<strong>\r\nHas the current ESPLOST been a success?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nYES! The current ESPLOST has provided for\r\nconstruction and equipping of the new\r\nPinevale Elementary School, the construction\r\nof a new gym and athletic fields atJ.L. Newbern\r\nMiddle School, renovations and modifications, \r\nat all schools, the purchase of new technology\r\nsystem-wide, textbooks, instructional materials,\r\nand school buses.\r\n<li>\r\n<strong>\r\nWhy would people who do not have\r\nchildren in the school system support\r\nthe ESPLOST extension?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nThe ESPLOST\r\nextension helps keep ad valorem taxes stable.\r\nAdditionally, the children are not the only ones\r\nwho benefit from good schools. The social and\r\neconomic strength of a community are greatly\r\ninfluenced by the school system. Good schools\r\nmean well-prepared citizens, a stronger labor\r\nmarket, and an inviting atmosphere for living\r\nand working. One of the key questions asked\r\nby industrial, commercial and\/or residential\r\nprospects looking to move into a community\r\nis, &ldquo;What is the quality of the schools in the\r\ncommunity?&rdquo;\r\n<li>\r\n<a title=\"2496x3248 Reasons to Vote Yes on March 17, 2015, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?attachment_id=12437\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"300x390 Reasons to Vote Yes on March 17, 2015, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ae9d0f5ed8e6744f65017e2329b51cc1.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<strong>\r\nWhy have a special election March 17,\r\n2015, rather than waiting to vote on the\r\nESPLOST during a general election?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nThe Board desires to have a seamless collection\r\nof sales tax revenues and wants to be able to\r\nmove forward with the construction of the\r\nnew Valdosta High School Project. Additionally,\r\nbecause the approval of an extension to our\r\ncurrent ESPLOST is a critical issue for our school\r\ndistrict, our Board of Education chose to have a\r\nstand&mdash;alone election so voters would be better\r\ninformed and not confused by other issues on\r\nthe ballot in a general election. Also, by voting\r\nnow we will be able to move forward with the\r\nplanning and construction of several projects,\r\nthe main one being the completion of the new\r\nValdosta High School Complex.\r\n<li>\r\n<strong>\r\nDoes the Lowndes County School System\r\nshare in the collections of the ESPLOST and\r\nsupport the sales tax extension? YES!\r\n<\/strong>\r\nThe\r\ncollections of the educational sales tax are\r\nshared between the two systems based on the\r\nstudent enrollments of each district. The two\r\nschool systems have worked together to plan\r\nthe current ESPLOST. Both the Valdosta City\r\nSchool Board and the Lowndes County School\r\nBoard strongly support the ESPLOST.\r\n<li>\r\n<strong>\r\nIs the Valdosta City\/Lowndes ESPLOST\r\ndifferent from the Lowndes County\r\nCommission SPLOST? YES!\r\n<\/strong>\r\nThe ESPLOST is a\r\nspecial purpose tax approved by the citizens\r\nexclusively for improving and\/or building\r\nschool facilities, purchasing instructional\r\nsupplies, technology, equipment, and vehicles;\r\nand for improving safety\/security measures.\r\nThe county\/city SPLOST is a special purpose\r\ntax designed to fund projects identified by\r\nthe Lowndes County Commissioners and the\r\nValdosta City Council.\r\n<li>\r\n<a title=\"2496x3248 ESPLOST for Schools: Investing in the Future, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?attachment_id=12421\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"300x390 ESPLOST for Schools: Investing in the Future, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/3c43c3f0047c5f624c1901dbe5b49262.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<strong>\r\nWhat would happen if the ESPLOST did\r\nnot pass?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nThe Valdosta City Schools Board of\r\nEducation has no desire to increase property\r\ntaxes in order to build a new high school and\r\nto make the other improvements necessary to\r\nmdve the district forward; however, withoiit\r\nthe passage of an ESPLOST most, if not all, of the\r\nproposed projects will not be accomplished.\r\nConsequently, there would be many lost\r\nopportunities for students, now, and in the\r\nfuture; as to delay the projects would result in\r\ngreater costs to complete the projects in the\r\nfuture. Finally, if the ESPLOST does not pass the\r\nonly way to complete the projects listed would\r\nbe through a property tax increase.\r\n<li>\r\n<strong>\r\nWhat is to become of the old Valdosta High\r\nSchool and the Performing Arts Center?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nThe old Valdosta High School will provide future\r\noptions for multiple uses by the system. The\r\nPerforming Arts Center will continue to be used\r\nas it is currently being used today.\r\n<li><a title=\"2496x3248 SPLOST V Frequently Asked Questions, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?attachment_id=12441\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"300x390 SPLOST V Frequently Asked Questions, in ESPLOST Kickoff and Press Conference, by Gretchen Quarterman, 24 February 2015\" src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/396aed47075fa533c6f90b8842344fbb.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<strong>\r\nWill a new football stadium be built?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nThere are currently no plans to relocate the\r\nstadium; however, enough land was purchased\r\nto accommodate a stadium should there be\r\na desire to do so in the future. No funds have\r\nbeen proposed in ESPLOST for this purpose.\r\n<li>\r\n\r\n<strong>\r\nWill the Board need to ask for future\r\nESPLOSTs?\r\n<\/strong>\r\nYes, because it will take more than\r\none ESPLOST to complete the entire Valdosta\r\nHigh School Complex project. In addition to\r\nthe High School Project there are ongoing\r\nprojects that will require continued support\r\nby ESPLOST. If we do not have ESPLOST these\r\nprojects can only be completed through a\r\nproperty tax increase.\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<p>\r\n -jsq\r\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Co-Chair Jerome Tucker emphasized that ESPLOST helping public schools also helps economic development. See below for who we now know are the committee members for the Educational Special Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST). It&#8217;s mysterious why that information wasn&#8217;t in the PR before the meeting, but now we know, since Gretchen went and took the [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[40,14,15,49,1700,8,20,1105,22,3,1106],"tags":[8281,8286,8717,8704,8705,8280,8721,8838,8282,8279,8701,10,291,5915,8702,8710,8815,12,7,8712,60,8700,6,7249,8816,8294],"class_list":["post-12453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","category-economy","category-education","category-elections","category-esplost","category-georgia","category-law","category-lcboe","category-politics","category-transparency","category-vboe","tag-24-february-2015","tag-300-n-lee-street","tag-community","tag-economy","tag-education","tag-educational-special-purpose-local-option-sales-tax","tag-elections","tag-esplost","tag-esplost-v","tag-esplost-v-kickoff-meeting","tag-georgia","tag-gretchen-quarterman","tag-jerome-tucker","tag-john-eunice","tag-lake","tag-law","tag-lcboe","tag-lowndes-area-knowledge-exchange","tag-lowndes-county","tag-politics","tag-tax","tag-transparency","tag-valdosta","tag-valdosta-city-hall-annex","tag-vboe","tag-will-kemp"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p585fK-3eR","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12453"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12455,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12453\/revisions\/12455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}