VALDOSTA — Lowndes County residents needing to utilize Tax Commission services during the weekend can do so starting May 7. 

The county will pilot a program to assess the feasibility of opening the drive-thru from 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. 

“We want to provide services for the working class of Lowndes County who cannot get to the office during normal operating hours,” said Tax Commissioner Felicia Williams. “You can get a license plate or do whatever business you need to attend to, but the main lobby will not be open.” 

The pilot will coincide with Farm Days. Williams said the pilot is purposely scheduled during Farm Days to encourage more participation. Although no hard number is set to guarantee the pilot’s continuation, Williams said she thinks a “great number” of people will use it.  “We have citizens who have to wait until they can schedule time off work because there are some things that can’t get done through the Internet,” Williams said. “You have students who go to class during operating hours.” 

In the future, kiosks could be placed throughout the county, lessening the times a resident will have to visit the office, she said. 

Residents who had birthdays in December, January or February did not receive notices to get their tags because the vendor who provided the notices for the state went bankrupt. Tags expire on the tag holder’s birthday. 

“People are still coming in saying they didn’t know they needed to get their tags,” said Williams. “This is another reason that makes me want to offer services on Saturday to help anyway we can.”

The tax office is located at 300 N. Patterson St. For more information, residents can contact the Tax Commissioner’s office, (229) 671-2579 or visit the Facebook page at Lowndes County Tax Commissioner. 

Jennifer Dandron is a reporter at the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be reached at (229) 244-3400 ext. 1255.