The spat over the proposed countywide SPLOST for roads isn't the only

place where Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown doesn't see eye-to-eye

with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners.

The county has proposed giving 35 percent of the proceeds to be split with

the county's municipalities, with the remaining take going to county

road projects.

Brown is upset over several other taxation issues which cause city residents

to pay more in county taxes than they receive in services, he said.

For example, the county commission agreed to pay Peachtree City $150,000

for recreation this year, but the city contends it should receive $450,000

instead. Not only that, but the county will issue those payments monthly

instead of in one lump sum.

"They have $35 million in their reserve fund," Brown said. "That's

more than I have in our annual city budget."

He argues the county could make a lump sum payment instead of doing it on

a monthly basis.

Brown also noted that Peachtree City has lost $2.45 million over 10 years

that has been paid to the county in taxes for emergency services, even though

the city has its own ambulance service and fire department.

The county's SPLOST vote came days before a new state law took affect

that gives cities more power in negotiating SPLOST tax distributions. Brown

claims the county could have waited a little longer to abide by the new law

and make the process more fair for everyone involved.

The county's recent legal spats with sheriff Randall Johnson are another

good example of the way the county, particularly commission chairman Greg

Dunn, are handling issues.

"It's almost like he's leading us down the path of mutually

assured destruction: 'If I can't get my way, everybody goes down,'" Brown

said.