Macon-Bibb County formally reduced its millage rate from 10.7 to 9.9 following completion of this year’s tax digest.
The year’s increase in property values would have been evenly offset by a tax rate of 10.1, but Mayor Lester Miller said during Tuesday’s meeting that he wanted to reduce the rate even further, especially since the Bibb County School System is not expected to roll back its rate.
Miller said there has been “some chatter” that the increased property values and $211.6 million budget mean the county is not really reducing taxes, but that is not the case.
“Let me dispel those rumors with these things called facts,” he said, before revealing that the taxes levied will total $58,796,806, down from $87,520,963 when he first took office.
Commissioner Paul Bronson wondered aloud if the county was keeping enough of the tax revenue to cover unforeseen expenses.
“Make sure we’re not extending past where we need to do to be in the safe zone,” Bronson said.
Miller replied, “I’m very confident with the amount of budget we put out there and the projections. And I certainly don’t think we’re being over-extended to give the taxpayers a larger break than they anticipated, especially in light of other agencies that may have to increase taxes.”
Bronson then asked to be a co-sponsor of the rollback.
“Why not? Let’s have fun with it,” Bronson said.
Commissioners also agreed to spend more than $286,000 to hire WM2A architects and construction managers to close out 2018 SPLOST funds earmarked for improvements at recreation centers Frank Johnson, Memorial Park Gym and Filmore Thomas Park.
Recreation department manager Robert Walker worked with commissioners to come up with a wish list for projects after the county leaders toured the centers in June of 2023 to see the needs at each facility.
The county also put aside $250,000 for matching funds for a potential grant to enhance the playground at Amerson River Park, extended Paulk Landscaping’s $208,000 contract for upkeep at Rose Hill Cemetery, expanded janitorial services for common areas in Macon Mall, and allowed the mayor to contract with traffic signal repair vendors, when necessary.
Commissioner Virgil Watkins led the effort to increase goals set last year for the Minority and Small Business Development Center.
In an effort to increase the number of minorities, women, veterans and disadvantaged vendors, the county increased the participation goal from 5% to 8%, increased the local vendor goal from 25% to 35%, and added a goal of 2% local minority vendors for county contracts.
The county exceeded last year’s goals, Watkins said.
“I think with care and attention we can continue to increase these numbers, which has a grand effect on our local economy,” he said.
With Miller agreeing there is room for improvement, the county approved the new goals.
The commission approved the alcohol license for the new Village Coffee shop in the former Oh Honey baking company in Ingleside Village, and upheld the decision to deny an alcohol license for Bloomfield Grocery at 4175 Bloomfield Road.
The county contracted with Atrium Health Navicent Medical Group for $49,500 to provide biometric screening for Macon-Bibb employees and amended a contract for the purchase of a smaller portion of land off Seventh Street.
Commissioners also abandoned rights-of-way near the Brookdale Resource Center for property to be sold to neighboring BSW Auto Sales for over $5,200, and squared-up and abandoned old rights-of-way near the mid-city squares of downtown. No one spoke at public hearings on those abandonments.
Here are highlights of the meeting captured in social media posts.
— Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities and can be reached at [email protected] or 478-301-2976.
