Latest news, weather and high school sports for Albany and Southwest Georgia

ALBANY,GA --
The city of Albany and Dougherty County are in the second phase of Local Option Sales Tax negotiations.

Representatives from either side continued negotiations Monday. Right now, the city receives 60% while the county gets 40% of the LOST funds. Both sides say they want to see an increase in their share to help fund operations.

“October 31st ends the second phase, and then if you've reached no agreement in the second phase, either party can petition to the superior court to make a determination, and then the judge has to make that ruling before December 31^st,” says Dougherty County Administrator Richard Crowdis.

If negotiations go into the third phase, both sides will make their case to the superior court judge who will then have to choose one or the other.