On Monday, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled in favor of Dunwoody in one of the two outstanding HOST lawsuits pending between DeKalb County and its cities.

That very same day I wondered “What’s that mean for the other big HOST lawsuit, Decatur vs. DeKalb?

Welp, the AJC’s April Hunt was good enough to go out and look into it.

Officials in those cities were greatly encouraged by Monday’s ruling. As part of the decision, if the cities lose their challenge against the county they are entitled to the same deal as Dunwoody: a direct disbursement from the state Department of Revenue before it sends money to the county.

“It’s definitely an insurance policy for the cities,” Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss said. “It’s very helpful to the position the cities have taken all along, that we are owed this.”

The problem is new bills could cripple the county, which never put any of the disputed HOST funds in escrow. It does not have the funds ready if it loses the ongoing suit with the other four cities.

The article even references the HOST hearing that the City Manager was attending when she replied in a quick note to me Monday.  That hearing – before DeKalb County Judge Mark Anthony Scott to determine HOST’s constitutionality at the Supreme Court’s direction – will result in a ruling some time later this year, according to the article.

And then what?  Why another appeal of course!