By Michael Prochaska
Staff Writer
 
County officials agreed last week to extend a 60-day deadline to negotiate with the City of Madison on each governing body’s desired share of Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue, but declined another attempt at third-party mediation.
In a letter to Commission Chair Ellen Warren requesting an extension on the time granted for negotiation, Madison Mayor Bruce Gilbert wrote, “I am certain you agree that we should make every effort to settle the LOST question without resorting to mandatory binding arbitration.”
The Board of Commissioners accepted the request but also gave County Attorney Christian Henry permission to request binding arbitration from the Ocmulgee Superior Court. Although a judge can only rule in favor of one governing body or the other, city and county officials have until the day of a judicial arbitration to negotiate on a compromise.

Printed in the August 30, 2012 edition