Hart County Board of Commissioners

May 1^st, 2002

12 noon

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met May 1^st, 2002 at the Hart County Library at 12 noon.

Those in attendance were as follows: Chairman Joey Dorsey presided with Commissioners Randy Banister, Ken Brown, Don Burdick, County Attorney Walter Gordon, County Administrator Gary Cobb, County Clerk Lawana Kahn, Mayor Matt Beasley, City Council members Herbert Maret, Sarah Mayfield, George Rooks, Ed Weaver, City Manager Phil Hertz, Robert Rider (Sun reporter) and Nathan Golden (Anderson Independent).

Chairman Dorsey opened the meeting and stated the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the 1%LOST renegotiations. He stated that the LOST revenues should be divided based on the county tax digest.

After discussing the distribution using the tax digest figures, Attorney Gordon reported that if the entities do not reach an agreement the tax would expire December 31^st, 2002. He remarked that the county could seek to enact a HOST tax (Homestead Option Sales Tax) if an agreement can not be reached. He reported that revenues from the HOST could be used 100% to provide property tax relief by raising homestead exemptions until homesteaders pay no property tax.

Council member Sarah Mayfield asked if that was the county's intention all along to enact HOST. Chairman Dorsey responded that was not the county's intention and that they have recently discovered that two counties in the state have imposed the tax.

Mayor Beasley stated that the City does not want to put a burden on the county or the City. He requested that the distribution remain at 23%.

Chairman Dorsey recommended to the board that the county distribute 16% of the 1%LOST to the City of Hartwell based on the tax digest.

Everyone agreed to meet again May 9^th, 2002 at 12 noon.

The meeting was adjourned.

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Joey Dorsey, Chairman Lawana Kahn, County Clerk