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Union County reports steady LOST/SPLOST collections and strong tourism numbers
Summary
Officials reported 2025 tax collections tracking close to 2024 levels, with LOST at $583,000 and SPLOST $728,000 for the year and tourism bringing an estimated $102.4 million to the county in 2024; hotel‑motel tax was up 6.83% year over year.
Union County Development Authority members heard an economic update on Jan. 12 showing local sales and lodging taxes essentially holding steady while tourism continued to drive local revenue.
Ivan Walker told the board Union County collected $583,000 in LOST and $728,000 in SPLOST for 2025; year‑to‑date totals were $6.5 million for LOST and $8.1 million for SPLOST, figures Walker said track closely with 2024 totals. Steve Rowe added that hotel‑motel tax revenue rose 6.83% from 2024 to 2025.
Rowe summarized tourism’s share of the local economy: "Tourism brought in 102.4 million in 2024 with 41% coming from lodging, 22% coming from food and beverage, 9% recreation, 21% retail and then 7% from gasoline and transportation related purchases," he said. He also noted strong holiday retail sales and high out‑of‑county visitation at local events — 55.5% of Farmers Market visitors and 66.5% of Sorghum Festival attendees were from outside Union County.
The figures, presented as part of the Authority’s regular reporting, were offered to inform future economic development decisions and to emphasize tourism’s current role in local receipts. Officials did not propose any immediate tax policy changes at the meeting.
The board recorded the report and moved on to other agenda items; no formal action tied to these revenue figures was taken at the Jan. 12 session.
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