However, HB 489 also requires,

and I quote, "The strategy shall ensure that the cost of any service

which a county provides primarily for the benefit of the unincorporated

area of the county shall be borne by the unincorporated residents, individuals,

and property owners who receive the service."

In our submittal to the DCA

we had a good service delivery strategy but we repeatedly and emphatically

stated that the funding for the strategy was not equitable. I quote from

our submittal, "the entities will continue to evaluate this service...

to eliminate the... inequitable funding issues. The entities have agreed

to reach a satisfactory conclusion of this issue by Dec. 31, 2000."

We submitted our strategy to

DCA in August of 1999. In January of 2000, realizing as a group that we

were making no progress in resolving the funding inequities, the cities

and the county mutually agreed to hire a consultant to resolve the issue.

We prepared a Request for Proposal and jointly interviewed the several

firms who responded. As you might imagine, choosing a firm was a little

like the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations!

We finally agreed to utilize

the consultant most favored by the county, Governmental Solutions, Ltd.

of Atlanta, with the understanding that we would all abide by their findings

and settle this issue once and for all. After thoroughly investigating

the county budget and extensive research with the county operating departments,

the consultants issued their written report on May 16, 2000.

Their conclusion was, and again

I quote, "There is tax inequity in Fayette County amounting to approximately

$2,055,000. Millage should increase in the unincorporated area to correct

this inequity and decline in the county-wide levy."

In their verbal presentation

the consultants also indicated that their tax inequity figures did not

include certain areas such as the library and recreation because they

lacked sufficient statistical usage data (which has since been collected)

to reach a valid conclusion. They went on to suggest several different

methods for resolving the inequities and proposed timelines for doing

so. They also offered their further services, for additional fees, of

course, to guide and assist us in implementing the solutions we chose.

Ms. Wells and Mr. Frady were

commission members when the study was done. Mr. VanLandingham was not.

The consultant's findings were clear and unequivocal serious tax inequity

exists in Fayette County.

After receiving the report,

the county virtually immediately disavowed the study, reneged on its commitment

to abide by the findings, and started fabricating arguments to cloud and

complicate the issue.

While there has been a great

deal of "communication" since then, it has consisted mainly

of trying to counter specious arguments and spurious rationalizations

concocted by the county. With no meaningful discussions taking place,

the cities have elected to follow the rules outlined in HB 489 and seek

a solution under the aegis of the superior court.

In the past I have been harsh

with some of my words about this issue. My harshness was due to the magnitude

of the wrong that is being inflicted on the cities by the county and I

do not apologize for it.

In the future, I will try to

be more temperate, as there are indeed no villains involved we are all

just trying to do the best we can with many very complicated issues. However,

we have been arguing about this since HB 489 was passed in 1997 and the

cities are still being wronged.

We who represent the cities

are frustrated and even a little bit angry. Our position has been ratified

they were wrong, too.

We are ready to meet at any

time with all or any part of the County Commission if meaningful discussions

can take place. Otherwise, we are compelled to do whatever we must do

to resolve the issue.

Bob Lenox

Mayor, Peachtree City