The Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) negotiations are going to arbitration. The City of Eastman offered to take 31.14% of the one percent sales tax with no stipulations, which is what they have received for the past 20 years. Commissioner Junior Howell made a motion to stand firm with the county offer of 27%. Commissioner Niblett seconded the motion.
Eastman City Councilman Raymond Mullis was in attendance in the audience at the commission meeting on Monday, February 6 and stated, “If we don’t go with 31.14%, we will have to go to arbitration.” No comments were made to Mullis from the board.
Initially, the city was asking for 40%. They then reduced the amount to 35%, and then 31.14 %, with the stipulation that the county give them the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds the county has been withholding and not to withhold any more of the SPLOST funds.
At the city council meeting on Thursday, January 29, the council voted to offer the county accepting 31.14 percent without any stipulations.
I dis-agree with the county; I pay both city and county taxes-(which btw, is disgusting and I think -unfair)..and the county does NOTHING to benefit me. -(All I can think of is maybe the county roads, which I rarely travel.)-
Just because the county has given away monies (as in Ms Lowery's case) -or lost track of things (as in the road department equipment ) or authorized un-wanted things-( as in the river dock/landing)-gives it no right to demand so much more. They need to re-visit this decision.