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Palmetto signs off on tax agreement

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
lbianchi@TheCitizenNews.com

The city of Sharpsburg will now be sharing in the proceeds generated by the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) of Coweta County. A new Certificate of Distribution was approved Monday night at Palmetto's City Council meeting and signed by Mayor Clark Boddie.

The tax revenue is now being divided seven ways with Newnan and Coweta County getting the largest shares. Sharpsburg's .42 percent of the pie is taken from the county's share which drops from 73.38 percent to 72.96 percent. Newnan remains at 21.89 percent. Amounts for the other four cities are: Senoia at 2.34 percent; Grantville at 1.76 percent; Palmetto at .44 percent; and Haralson at .19 percent.

In a letter from Coweta County Administrator Theron Gay to Mayor Boddie, Gay stated that a new certificate of distribution must be executed and delivered to the Department of Revenue by December 31, 2004. Failure to do so would result in a loss of the LOST funds for all concerned.

Sharpsburg requested status as a qualifying municipality back in September. Philip M. Embry, Director of the Georgia Department of Revenue approved the status on October 29. Embry's letter to Chairman Vernon Hunter of the Coweta County Board of Commissioners states that a municipality is defined as only those incorporated municipalities which impose a tax and which provide at least three of the following services: water, sewage, garbage collection, police protection, fire protection or library.

Council member Leon Sumlin motioned to approve the mayor's signature and was seconded by Council member Bill Burnham. The request passed unanimously. The second reading of ordinance 2004-11 concerning Personal Care Homes passed without question. The amended document adds a definition for child caring institutions and provided conditions for both personal care homes and child caring institutions. It also spells out the appropriate districts within which such uses are allowed. After Councilman John Farr motioned to accept the ordinance, Councilman Thomas Morrow seconded and the request passed unanimously.

Before adjourning, Mayor Boddie announced that City Hall would be closed December 23, 24 and 31 for the Christmas and New Years holidays. The work session scheduled for December 30 has also been cancelled. A word of thanks from Council members Joyce Baker and Thomas Morrow for the city's tree lighting ceremony ended the meeting.