CITY, COUNTY AGREE ON ‘LOST'

LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX HELPS PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THROUGHOUT TIFT

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

In this season of peace on Earth and goodwill toward men, Tift County and the City of Tifton have come together to approve the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST), averting a possible fiscal crisis in local government while maintaining property tax relief throughout the county and its municipalities.

It only took six months, an unsuccessful attempt at outside mediation, and, at times, an acrimonious war of words.

But in the end, with a Dec. 30 deadline looming when LOST would expire, the two governments came together and approved the LOST distribution for the next 10 years as required by Georgia law.

The approval by Tift County and the cities of Tifton, Ty Ty and Omega, leaves the distribution formula unchanged from where it has been for 20 years: Tift County receives 61.98% of the revenue; the City of Tifton gets 33.33%; Omega, 3.05%; and Ty Ty, 1.64%.

“All four governing bodies agree that renewing LOST for the next 10 years is a win for all Tift taxpayers, and the agreement demonstrates that the cities and the county are committed to working together for our community,” read a joint statement released Monday from the City of Tifton and Tift County. 

"The entire Board of Commissioners is happy to announce that Tift County and our local city governments have agreed to continue the Local Option Sales Tax,” said Tift County Commission Chairman Tony McBrayer in the joint statement with the city.

“In Georgia, the LOST tax is a significant source of revenue for counties and cities. More importantly, the revenue resulting from the LOST tax is generated by everyone who makes a retail purchase in our community, decreasing local governments' dependency on property taxes as the primary funding source for public services,” McBrayer said.

In the joint statement, Tifton Mayor Julie B. Smith said: "We are grateful for the opportunity to provide tax relief for our residents and property owners. The renewal of the Local Option Sales Tax is beneficial to all. LOST is a fair tax as it is consumer based. We hope to continue working together for the best of all who call Tifton home."

The city and county statement did not address the disagreements that have held up LOST approval for months: Proposals to end a pending unrelated lawsuit between the parties and for the city to give up control of its water-sewer system to an independent water authority composed of city and county representatives.

When contacted Monday evening, Mayor Smith said the city and county are continuing to negotiate regarding the water-sewer system, but all parties have agreed not to lose the LOST over the issues.

“We want to do everything possible to be cooperative and work out a solution beneficial to everyone,” the mayor said.

LOST is a 1% tax imposed on the sale of tangible personal property and is collected as a part of every point-of-sale transaction in Tift County. In the next decade, LOST is expected to generate more than $100 million to help fund local government services and to help provide tax relief to local property owners. 

Every 10 years, Georgia law requires cities and their counties to agree to Local Option Sales Tax distributions following the new Census, taking into account service delivery strategies. If no agreement is reached, then LOST expires.

FOILED AGAIN! The Grinch is served a warrant for his arrest by Lt. Joel Reddick of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in Adel after the Grinch attempted to sabotage Christmas.

COOK COUNTY AUTHORIZES SANTA, BUT NOT THE GRINCH

COUNTY HOLDS EVENT FOR 2OO CHILDREN

Staff Reports

Christmas came early in Cook County when county officials, in conjunction with Cook County Pre-K, held "Christmas at the Courthouse" Friday in Adel.

Approximately 200 children from Cook County’s Pre-K program visited with Santa Claus and received coloring books, teddy bears, candy, and other goodies from Sheriff Doug Hanks, Probate Court Judge Chase Daughtrey, Clerk of Court April Garrett, Tax Commissioner Tonya McConnell, and Tax Assessor Jennifer Thornton. 

Superior Court Judge Dick Perryman issued an order authorizing Santa into the homes of all the children in Cook County on Christmas Eve.

The order “instructs the sheriff of said county to authorize entry into the homes of the children of Cook County for the purposes of bringing gifts and smiles to the wonderful children of Adel, Lenox, Cecil, and Sparks.”

Probate Judge Daughtrey also issued a warrant for the Grinch who attempted to sabotage Christmas. Thankfully, he was quickly apprehended by sheriff's deputies, for which the children were appreciative.

TIFTON INVITATIONAL SPOTLIGHTS AREA BASKETBALL TEAMS

The 13th Annual McDonald’s Tifton Invitational will feature local prep basketball teams on Dec. 27 and 28.

The basketball tournament at the Tift County High School gym will be played both evenings beginning at 5:30 p.m. The host team, the Tift County High Blue Devils, will take the court at 8:30 p.m. both days.

Other competitors include Cook County, Irwin County, Turner County, Fitzgerald, and Crisp County. 

“We are excited about this incredible opportunity to highlight six basketball teams in our South Central Georgia area,” said Wendell Morgan of the Tifton McDonald’s, the tournament's title sponsor.

Tournament Chair Joyce Danford said, “We devote many months with a team of dedicated community volunteers to produce this tournament each year, which provides a fundraiser for the team, exposure for the sponsors and businesses in the area, and a fun outing for families and basketball fans.”     

Tift County Head Basketball Coach Tommy Blackshear has high expectations for this year’s team and expects the Blue Devils to be in contention for another region championship. 

“Tift has eight seniors who are determined to hang another championship banner on the wall and keep their rich tradition intact,” Blackshear said.

Again this year, tournament sponsor Tifton Coca-Cola United will recognize local first responders, active duty military, and veterans on Wednesday before the 8:30 p.m. Tift County game. The Flawless Divas will be performing at halftime.

ABAC representatives at the NAAE national conference include, front row from left: Olivia Sharp, Jessica Brogdon, Kelly Rauch, Erin Gilleland, Madeline McDonald, Jessica Garrason, Erin Pearce, Madison Dysart, Ivey Cook, Abigail Zerwig, Allison Bridges, and NAAE President Stan Scurlock; second row: Dr. Andrew Thoron, Madison Shipley, Colton Peacock, Chase Greene, Victoria Henley, Jerrett Alligood, Heather Schmidt, John Gore, and Shelby McClellan.

ABAC AG ED PROGRAM RECEIVES AWARD

The National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) recently recognized the agricultural education program at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with the NAAE Outstanding Cooperation Award.

Dr. Andrew Thoron, head of ABAC's Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, said the award is based on program services, support for and cooperation with state and national agricultural educators associations, and awards and honors.

“Everyone involved with our agricultural education program was extremely pleased and honored to receive this prestigious award,” Thoron said. “We were first recognized for this cooperation in July by the Georgia Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association. Then they submitted us for the national award.”

Thoron and 19 ABAC students recently traveled to Las Vegas to the NAAE national convention to receive the award.

~ Click Video Above ~

ELKS LODGE SUPPORTS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

The Tifton Elks Lodge #1114 recently presented donations supporting several local programs and organizations.

The Elks Lodge presented a $4,000 donation to the Peanut Butter & Jesus ministry of Tift County. The PB&J staff and volunteers make and distribute 1,700 peanut butter sandwiches, juice, a snack, and a scripture passage every Saturday to children and homeless people in Tift County.

In the above photo, from left, are: Laura Lee Hickman, Spud Bowen, and Terry Rowe of the Tifton Elks Lodge; Tony McBrayer, executive director of PB&J; and Roger Buffi and Randy Clements of the Tifton Elks Lodge.

The Elks also made a $2,000 donation to the Alliance for Children and another $2,000 to the Bridge of Tiftarea.

Pictured below from left are: Jerry Holley, Tifton Elks; Cindy Evers, executive director of the Alliance for Children; Randy Clements, Tifton Elks Lodge; Christy Day, executive director of the Bridge of Tiftarea; and Tina Wood, Tifton Elks Lodge.

The donations are provided by grants from the Elks National Foundation as a way of giving back to the local community.

TIFTON’S DEC. BEAUTY SPOTS

Keep Tift Beautiful in December highlights the home garden of Renee and Brad Sullivan and their daughter Caroline at 1009 Hall Ave. in Tifton as this month’s residential "Beauty Spot."

In honor of the holiday season, Keep Tift Beautiful also honors Tift Regional Medical Center with its Tree of Life as the business Beauty Spot of the month.

Southwell President and CEO Christopher Dorman, KTB Beauty Spot Coordinator Rosemary Hightower, and hospital CFO Troy Brooks stand next to the tree in the photograph at left. 

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Apex Apartments

1644 Carpenter Road S., Tifton

Dec. 5

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Harborview Health Systems

1451 Newton Drive, Tifton

Dec. 6

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

“Cocoa,” is ready for her new holiday home. Cocoa is available for adoption today at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt her and to see other pets available, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

J.J. GOLDEN & CO. BUYS TIFTON DRUG STORE

~ DEC. 22, 1897

J.J. Golden & Co. closed a deal on Dec. 22, 1897, to purchase the stock at the Tifton Drug Store belonging to Dr. J.C. Goodman. The intention was to consolidate the Golden and Goodman stores, either at the Main Street or Love Avenue store location.

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