Gwinnett County, cities to continue tax talks

Negotiations continue this week between Gwinnett County and its 15 municipalities to craft a plan that would minimize overlapping services and establish how much city residents should pay in county taxes.

After three days of formal mediation, representatives from both sides left the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawerenceville Friday without an agreement but expressing optimism with the process. Court-appointed mediator Denny Galis of Athens would say only that progress had been made in settling the dispute.

The two sides were forced into mediation when they failed to agree on a 10-year Service Delivery Strategy by the March 1 deadline.

While the formal mediations have ended, both sides will continue exchanging ideas this week, said Mike Comer, Gwinnett County deputy administrator. He said the groundwork had been laid to the point where the parties may not need the structure of mediation to carry on talks.

However, he said, the mediator can schedule additional structured sessions if he chooses.

Suwanee Mayor Dave Williams, who serves as chairman of the Gwinnett Municipal Association, said the county is drafting a document listing the points of discussion from last week. The cities will review the document, he said, then evaluate whether it addresses their concerns.

In opening remarks made last week, both sides expressed frustration over two years of haggling.