Peachtree City and Tyrone stand

to be the big losers under the county's proposed plan to equalize sales

tax distribution.

In fact, Peachtree City could

lose nearly $400,000 a year under Fayette County's new proposal for dividing

up sales tax dollars.

The County Commission voted

unanimously Thursday to call for a 50-50 split of the more than $15 million

in sales tax dollars that is collected every year.

Currently, the county only

receives 47.5 percent of the money.

"It's just a simple solution

for being fair," said Commissioner A.G. VanLandingham.

Every 10 years after the Census

records are complete, the county and its largest municipality have to

sign off on a distribution method for sales tax monies.

County finance director Mark

Pulliam offered a comparison of the current and proposed plans during

Thursday night's meeting.

Currently, the credit a resident

of the unincorporated resident receives on his property tax bill is $169.14.

Residents who live in the municipalities receive a much larger credit,

ranging from $461.52 in Fayetteville to $637.67 in Brooks.

The new plan would give unincorporated

residents a bigger tax break by raising their credit to $178.04. Residents

in Brooks and Fayetteville would also see a slight hike in their credits.

Brooks residents credit rises to $643.27 and Fayetteville's credit rises

to $482.01.

But residents in Peachtree

City and Tyrone would see their tax bills increased. Peachtree City's

credit is estimated to drop from $517.25 to $504.82. Tyrone's credit takes

the biggest hit with their credit dropping from $598.75 to $541.03. Tyrone

would lose nearly $80,000 a year in tax revenues under the plan.

"This is a complex law

and its purpose is to give property tax relief. It's important to make

sure every taxpayer gets some amount," said Commission Chairman Greg

Dunn.

The issue now goes to Peachtree

City for discussion.

County officials emphasized

the figures could change if the cities decided a different measure of

distribution for their 50 percent of the funds.

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