Wednesday, December 27, 2000
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Wednesday, December 27, 2000 |
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Forced mediation over tax equity looking likely
By DAVE HAMRICK
City councils throughout Fayette County will soon consider asking the Superior Court to order mediation of their dispute with the county over tax equity. "We will follow the exact procedures outlined by state law," said Peachtree City Mayor Bob Lenox. Mayors of the county's cities got together Friday to discuss issues they have in common, and decided it's time to take the dispute to a mediator, he said. County and cities have been arguing for more than two years over the cities' contention that their residents pay more in taxes than they receive in services from the county. A new state law requires that cities and counties come to an agreement over delivery of services to their residents, and make sure people aren't charged for services that they don't receive. But county and city leaders in Fayette have not been able to come to agreement. The county maintains that, because city residents receive a larger rollback on their property taxes from the local option sales tax, that makes up for any inequity in services. City leaders argue that they included sales taxes in their calculations that a tax inequity exists. The County Commission last month voted to stand pat on its final statement that no tax inequity exists. The next step, said Lenox, is for the mayors to go to their city councils and ask for authorization to make a formal request for mandatory mediation. All the councils probably will discuss the matter in January, he added. Lenox said the law calls for a petition to Superior court asking that it order mandatory mediation. A judge will have 30 days to choose a mediator, who will seek to work out an agreement and then issue a report on the process within 60 days. What happens next if mediation doesn't result in an agreement? "State law doesn't say what to do at that point," said Lenox, adding, "I'd rather cross that bridge when we come to it." Meanwhile, County Commission Chairman Harold Bost earlier this month said he may ask the voters to do away with the local option sales tax early next year.
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