Dougherty County proposes 60-40 tax revenue split
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ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – The City of Albany and Dougherty County continue their conversations on LOST. These are funds generated by people who spend money on local businesses. The objective is to relieve local taxpayers.
The city and county are trying to agree on how to allocate these funds. Traditionally, the split was 60/40 in favor of the city.
This year, the recommendations were different. Earnings from LOST are estimated to be around $11 million. The city wants the split to be 70/30 with more for them.
The county was asking for it to be 53/47, with 53 going to them until Monday’s commission meeting.
“We are ready to go 60/40. It’s the line in the sand. That’s it,” President Christopher Cohilas said.
Commission Chairman Christopher Cohilas said it was important to reach an agreement on the split now, and that it was up to the city to accept or reject that proposal. If the city rejects the county’s proposal, Cohilas said it would result in an $11 million tax increase for Dougherty County citizens.
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“And that decision is up to them,” Cohilas said.
LOST revenue contributes to local projects and government expenses such as repairing roads or providing appropriate equipment to government entities.
County Commissioner Anthony Jones said a 60/40 split is fair, adding that less for the county would hurt the people they serve.
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“We lived within our 60/40 means for years and it didn’t cause any problems. All of these new numbers are just divisive,” Jones said.
County Attorney Spencer Lee said the city and county have become accustomed to a 60/40 split. He adds that they have been doing this for 10 years and that any change would disrupt the budgets.
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“This renegotiation must be completed and a distribution certification filed by the end of the year — or we will lose LOST,” Lee said.
A letter to the city with this new 60/40 split proposal is being sent to the city.
The county and city must reach an agreement by December.
We have contacted the city for a statement on this new proposal. We are still awaiting a response.
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