City, County Vote on LOST

The Jasper County Commission and Monticello City Council held emergency called meetings Monday evening to vote on the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) proceeds.

In addition, Shady Dale Mayor Gary Heaton talked with his council members, receiving verbal permission to sign the sales tax agreement.

The entities had reached a decision on the sales tax question, after going before a judge, but before the judge had to make a decision last May.

The agreed upon settlement was 67 percent for the county, three percent for Shady Dale, and 30 percent for the city of Monticello, with both Monticello and Jasper County earmarking two percent of their proceeds to fund the Jasper County Library.

The Georgia Supreme Court last Monday ruled that it was unconstitutional for a judge to determine the division of sales tax proceeds, so counties and cities were scampering this week to take action to continue to receive the one percent sales tax.

County Attorney Jim Alexander said that the Department of Revenue (DOR) and Attorney General Sam Olens had agreed that the DOR would collect sales tax through today, Oct. 17, under the previous settlements. Any county/city that does not have a signed agreement turned in by the end of business today, will no longer receive that one percent, he said.

The ruling occurred on Monday, Oct. 7, but there was a 10-day appeal process, and those days were used to try to sort out the ramifications of the ruling.

Mr. Alexander said he had been in discussions with city attorney Joe Reitman, and that they both felt the appropriate action was to have the city and county re-vote on the division and submit their paperwork to the state, without any ruling from a judge or reference to a consent order.

County offices were closed Monday for Columbus day, but the meeting was held that evening. Taxpayer Watchdog Group chairman Mary Patrick and resident Charles Forsythe complained about the way the meeting was called with short notice. The county met at 6 p.m.

Monday, and the city met at 7 p.m. (The county posted its intention to meet on its website Saturday, and on the Courthouse door. It was also on The Monticello News window and website over the weekend.)City officials notified The News office Monday morning of the emergency meeting.

Mayor Heate\on said his group could not get together, but he had their approval to sign the documents. Shady Dale’s portion was never in contention.