Peachtree City

officials seem to be adamant about their position on the Local Option

Sales Tax negotiations with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners.

The city wants

the LOST distribution formula to remain as is, with the county getting

47.5 percent of the funds and the remainder being split by the cities

on a population basis.

But the county

wants to increase its share to 50 percent, which would cost Peachtree

City approximately $400,000 a year. The City Council rejected that proposal

with a unanimous vote Thursday night.

At a post-election

meeting, city representatives wouldn't agree to the 50-50 county proposal

"and we left the room," Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown told

council members at last week's meeting.

Councilman

Steve Rapson said to make up such a $400,000 shortfall would take doubling

the city's anticipated 9 percent millage increase.

At the original

meeting with county and city officials, the general agreement was to leave

the distribution formula the same, Brown said.

County Commission

Chairman Greg Dunn said at the end of the meeting "there may be some

minor modifications," Brown said, adding the county's proposed new

formula was a surprise.

City Attorney

Rick Lindsey said if the county and city don't agree on a LOST formula

next year, "until we reached a new agreement with Fayette County."

The LOST is

the largest source of revenue for Peachtree City.

All told, the

LOST brings in over $18 million to Fayette County. City officials contend

the current formula has benefited the county because of the tremendous

growth in Peachtree City since 1993.

During that

time frame, Peachtree City lost out on $2.6 million in LOST funds it deserved,

according to City Manager Jim Basinger.

Basinger advocated

rejecting the county's proposal for a new LOST formula.