Wednesday, December 4, 2002
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Wednesday, December 4, 2002 |
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Locals about to lose LOST? By JOHN MUNFORD
A Dec. 30 deadline is fast approaching for Peachtree City and Fayette County's governing bodies to agree on a distribution formula for the one-cent Local Option Sales Tax. Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown has been negotiating the matter with Fayette County Commission Chairman Greg Dunn, but no agreement has yet been reached. If an agreement is not filed with the state Department of Community Affairs by Dec. 30, none of the governments could collect any LOST funds until a new agreement can be reached. Currently, the county commission receives 47.5 percent of the funds collected while the cities split the remainder based on their populations. But several months ago the county informed the cities it wants to increase its share to 50 percent. That proposal would cost Peachtree City approximately $400,000 a year in revenue, according to officials. The county's latest offer would phase in the 50 percent mark over three years, with no change in the figures this year, an increase of 1 percent to the county the following year and a final increase of 1.5 percent to the county in the third year. Brown said those figures weren't in his latest proposal to Dunn. Brown said Monday he is "very tense" about the situation. He hopes the county will cooperate, especially since he has worked with the commission on resolving other issues this year such as the tax equity lawsuit and planning matters. "I have not done one thing that has worked against the county," Brown said. Brown also noted that Peachtree City and Fayetteville are "the economic engines of the county." "I'm hoping they see the benefit of working with Peachtree City," Brown said. "We're still hopeful we will get it resolved in good time." Brown noted that the issue should be in the mediation stage by now, but Dunn wanted to avoid having to pay attorneys to settle the matter and he agreed. Another option is for the case to be decided by an independent arbitrator.
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