South Fulton cities to host LOST townhall Wednesday

Negotiations with county will determine distribution of sales tax dollars critical to municipal budgets

The Cities of Fulton County will host a townhall Wednesday in south Fulton for residents to discuss with city and county leaders the ramifications of Fulton County seeking to dramatically increase its share of Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) dollars. With less than 900 of Fulton’s 1.1 million residents living in unincorporated Fulton, the county currently receives 4.98 percent of LOST revenues. The 15 cities share the other 95 percent, with those revenues covering 1/4 or more of cities’ budgets. North Fulton cities held a townhall last week.

The cities and county must negotiate how to divvy up what is estimated to be more than $3 billion over the next decade. The county has threatened to let the LOST expire – which would devastate city budgets – as a negotiating tactic. Under state law, the cities and county have until Dec. 30 to reach an agreement or the tax goes away.

WHAT: South Fulton Townhall on LOST negotiations

WHO: Mayors or representatives of cities of Chattahoochee Hills, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Palmetto, South Fulton, Union City, as well as north Fulton cities. All Fulton County commissioners are invited.

WHERE: Georgia International Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m.