Tift County hires consultants to estimate nonresident share of local sales tax revenue

County Manager Jim Carter told the Board on Nov. 4 that staff recommends two agreements to support a sales tax analysis: a $1,500 project-coordination agreement with Valdosta State University’s Center for Regional Impact and a contract with Jones Economic Consulting (Dr. Luke Jones) to perform the analysis. Carter said the consulting engagement is estimated to require 40–60 hours at a rate of $150 per hour; the study will estimate the share of Tift County’s local sales tax revenue attributable to non-residents.

Carter presented the agreements as technical support for an analysis intended to inform county policymakers about how much local sales tax is paid by visitors versus residents. The board indicated its desire to place both agreements on the Nov. 10 consent agenda; no vote was taken at the work session.

The work-session transcript does not include the study’s specific methodology, timing for draft deliverables, or the total estimated project cost beyond the per-hour estimate and the $1,500 coordination fee.