Section 36-70-25.1 - [Effective 1/1/2026] Mediation process(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'affected municipality' means the county seat and each municipality of at least 500 persons .(b) If a county and the affected municipalities in the county are unable to reach an agreement on all services within 90 days of initiation of the process provided for in Code Section 36-70-22, the county and all affected municipalities shall, by such ninetieth day, commence mediation in an attempt to reach a final agreement. Such mediation shall be limited to discussing only those services and geographic areas which remain to be agreed upon.(c) The costs of the mediation process undergone pursuant to this Code section shall be shared by the parties to the mediation pro rata based on each party's population according to the most recent United States decennial census with the county's population including only the unincorporated population of the county. Amended by 2024 Ga. Laws 698,§ 1, eff. 1/1/2026.Amended by 2006 Ga. Laws 453,§ 36, eff. 4/14/2006.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.