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:: Lowndes County ::

Government

Quick Facts
2004 Population
95,787
2006 Job Tax Credit Tier
3
2005 Tax Millage Rate
24.26
Legal Organ
The Valdosta Daily Times
Form of Government
Manager
Service Delivery Region
Region 11
Congressional and Legislative Districts





  • Lowndes County collected $48.5 million in total revenues in 2000. In 2004, the county received $55.6 million, an increase of 14.7%. Total revenue in 2004 equaled $589 per capita. The statewide revenue per capita for this same year was $736.
  • From 2000 to 2004, own source revenues for Lowndes County rose from $41.9 million to $47.7 million, an increase of 13.8%. Own source revenues include revenues from property taxes, sales taxes, and excise and special use taxes. Per capita own source revenues amounted to $504 in 2004. This compares to a statewide per capita amount of $631.
  • The county collected an average of $179 per capita in property taxes during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $213 per capita collected by counties with similarly-sized populations. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $288. On average, property taxes accounted for 37.0% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 2000 to 2004.
  • General operating expenditures for Lowndes County in 2000 equaled $51.5 million, or $560 per capita. By 2004, general operating expenditures decreased by 15.7% to $43.5 million, or $472 per capita. General operating expenditures per capita for counties with similarly-sized populations was $568 in 2004. The statewide average was $626 per capita during the same period.
  • Historically, the top three expenditure categories for counties are public safety, administration, and health and human services. In 2004, Lowndes County spent $14.0 million or 24.4% of total county spending on public safety which includes law enforcement, fire services and jails. Expenditures for administration totaled $6.0 million, amounting to 10.5% of total expenditures. The county expended $9.4 million or 16.4% of total expenditures on health and human services.
  • From 2000 to 2004, Lowndes County had an average of $10.5 million in long-term debt outstanding, resulting in an average per capita debt of $112. This amount was less than the $497 per capita average of counties with similarly-sized populations.
      

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