The Camden County Board of Commissioners approved the Certification of Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Distribution at their August 16, 2022, regular meeting. The Certificate will be sent to the Cities of Kingsland, St. Marys, and Woodbine to be fully executed by their respective mayors.
In June, Camden County and the Cities of Kingsland, St. Marys, and Woodbine began discussions to renegotiate the LOST distributions for the next ten years. Throughout Georgia, counties and qualified cities receiving general-purpose LOST revenue renegotiate distribution agreements following a decennial census.
“Camden County residents should be proud of the dedicated negotiations their elected and appointed officials made on their behalf,” said Camden County Board of Commissioners Chairman Gary Blount. “While there was initial disagreement, our leaders came together to act in the best interests of our community.”
“The working relationship between the City of Kingsland, the other municipalities, and Camden County is valuable to all local residents,” said Kingsland Mayor Dr. C. Grayson Day. “Our ability to compromise and find solutions makes us a stronger community and I am very pleased that we were able to reach an agreement that will benefit the cities and the county."
LOST revenues are a 1% sales tax on all goods purchased within the county. These tax dollars are paid by both residents and non-residents. Beginning January 1, 2023, the LOST revenues will be divided with the following percentages:
Years 1-6Years 7-8Years 9-10
| Camden County | 46.00% | 47.00% | 48.00% |
| City of Kingsland | 25.56% | 25.06% | 24.56% |
| City of St. Marys | 25.44% | 24.94% | 24.44% |
| City of Woodbine | 3.00% | 3.00% | 3.00% |
| Total | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Over the course of three meetings, elected and appointed officials from Camden County and the Cities of Kingsland, St. Marys, and Woodbine utilized the eight criteria mentioned in Georgia law to reach the percentages listed above.
“I have to commend both our elected and appointed officials for their dedicated work during LOST renegotiations,” said Woodbine Mayor Kizzi Knight. “Woodbine residents, along with the rest of the county, benefit from our collaboration as we work towards improving our community in this next decade.”
“LOST funds come from both residents and visitors to our community,” added St. Marys Mayor John Morrissey. “It is important to continue working together for the good of St. Marys and the rest of our county.”
From Left: St. Marys City Manager Robby Horton, Deputy County Administrator Shawn Boatright, St. Marys Mayor John Morrissey, Chairman Gary Blount, Woodbine Mayor Kizzi Knight, Vice-Chairman Ben Casey, St. Marys City Council Member Lisa James, Kingsland Mayor Dr. C. Grayson Day, and Kingsland City Manager Lee Spell
Full Press Release (PDF)
Original source can be found here.
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