The Tyrone

Town Council expressed disappointment about the Fayette County Commission's

request in the renegotiation of Local Option Sales Tax at their monthly

meeting last Thursday evening.

Every 10 years

the LOST must be renegotiated and the county has asked the cities to approve

a 50-50 split instead of the current 47.5-52.5 split. According to Town

Manager Barry Amos, the increase of the county's share would result in

a loss of approximately $130,000 a year for Tyrone.

"I don't

understand the county's rationale for wanting to do this," said Amos.

"It is very disappointing."

Tyrone is not

alone in this matter. Peachtree City would also face a reduction of funds

should the request pass. In addition to the loss of funds, the cities

and towns in Fayette County must set the property tax within 30 days and

their budgets were prepared based on the current funds received from LOST.

The only city

that has to approve the request for it to pass is Peachtree City but Peachtree

City Manager Jim Basinger has sent a memo out to the cities involved to

keep the current LOST distributions. Amos supported that as well and recommended

to council that they vote to side with Peachtree City and keep the distributions

the same.

Amos also told

council that the existing certificate calls for an adjustment every year,

and because Fayette County did not sign it, they were overpaid $3 million

in funds while Brooks lost $18,763 during that time.

Members of

the Tyrone Town Council were very concerned about the county commission's

request. Councilman Ronnie Cannon wondered what kind of a millage rate

increase the citizens of Tyrone could expect in the future if the LOST

request went through. Amos said that it would be an increase of about

one mill, which on average would be an increase in taxes of about $35

a year.

"This

really sticks it to the cities," said Councilman Paul LeTourneau,

who wondered if the county voted on this as a regular vote or in secret.

A decision

will have to be made soon but the LOST redistribution, if there is one,

would not go into effect until January.