For more than two hours last Wednesday, the Fayette County Commission and the Peachtree City Council butted heads over the city’s allegation that city residents are being double-taxed for EMS services.
But when the dust had settled, no progress had been made and both sides left shaking their heads over a discussion that wound up going nowhere.
Peachtree City officials asked for the meeting because they say they’re being taxed twice for EMS services. Peachtree City has operated its own fire and emergency services division since 1987, but is complaining because city residents are still paying EMS taxes to the county.
“I want to resolve this double-taxation issue tonight,” said Peachtree City Mayor Harold Logsdon.
City officials said the city is paying more than $220,000 a year in EMS taxes and the county needs to stop charging residents the tax.
Fayette County Director of Fire and Emergency Services Director Jack Krakeel offered a history lesson in EMS services in the county, so officials could place the current dispute in context.
In 1973, the state created the Emergency Medical Service Systems Act, which established guidelines for EMS systems. After the act, the county used grant funds to acquire two ambulances and obtain the license for Fayette County EMS. The ambulances were placed in Fayetteville and Peachtree City and staffed by volunteers.
In 1978, the county acquired two more ambulances and placed them in Tyrone and south Fayette County to provide better coverage. Shortly afterwards, Peachtree City obtained its own EMS zone and license.
Between 1983 and 1987, the county established the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and consolidated all the county volunteer programs into one department. The department continued to provide EMS support to Peachtree City.
But in 1987, the city told Fayette County that it was taking over full responsibility for all EMS functions.
In 2000, House Bill 489 was established urging local governments to work at eliminating duplication of services and Peachtree City officials started raising the tax equity issue.
Krakeel told the officials that there were three options available: retain status quo, reimburse the city on an annual basis or create a separate EMS tax district that would exclude Peachtree City.
The director calculated the financial impact of reimbursing the city and discovered that its $220,149 a year or approximately $3.61 for a Peachtree City resident with a $200,000 home.
Another option offered by Fayette County would be consolidation.
“A total consolidation would be the most bang for the buck,” said Commission Chairman Greg Dunn.
But the very mention of the word sent shivers through the Peachtree City officials.
“I don’t think I’m buying all that. We’re content with what we have. We just want to end the double taxation,” said Logsdon.
Commissioner Peter Pfeifer said all the talks were mere speculation, since not all the facts were available.
“I think our citizens expect us to work together. There’s a reason for consolidation happening around the state,” said Pfeifer.
He suggested the group commission a study, but was met with stony reluctance from Peachtree City’s officials.
“Right now, you are costing the citizens of Peachtree City money,” said City Councilman Stuart Kourajian.
With neither side willing to budge, both sides left the meeting wondering how the issue would eventually be resolved.
[Commissioner Pfeifer tells his viewpoint in a letter to the editor on Page A7.]