As Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller is set to begin his second 4-year term on Jan. 1, he reflected on his first term and looked ahead to the future during the December edition of Ask Mayor Miller.
In the coming months, the Middle Georgia Regional Airport revitalization project takes off in earnest, which Miller says is a full-time job. (16:40 on video)
He also wants a new arena and convention center with a hotel within walking distance of the heart of downtown, (14:50), hopes to secure Georgia’s first national park and strives to pave as many roads as he can.
Add that to Miller’s plans for East Bank’s planned major development on the site of the old Bibb Mill, sprucing up Greenwood Bottom, (15:25), growing attendance at the amphitheater, (10:05), tackling homelessness, (3:39) eradicating blight and fighting crime.
He compiled a list of 32 initiatives he’s proud of and looks ahead to continuing that work, (2:36).
While he struggled to define anything he’s failed at during his first term, (7:19), Miller said he often gets blamed for public safety issues that are under the sheriff’s purview.
“Response times are one of those things that we often wish we could do something about. And you can’t just throw money at, believe me, because we’ve put an additional $16 million into public safety. Our response times are not where I think I want them to be, for sure. The community wants them to be on top of that. Being a more efficient government at the same time, providing those safety needs that we have, is something I’d like to do,” Miller said.
The homicide rate for 2024 is on track to drop significantly from recent years and the mayor credits new technology for the sheriff’s office and the community’s Macon Violence Prevention program that aims to diffuse emotions before circumstances lead to violence.
“Getting everybody on the same page working together. And like I mentioned before, we’re way ahead of where we thought we were going to be at this time,” he said.
Third term a possibility?
With a long to-do list that includes being ready to host national park tourists, building additional housing in the wake of nearly 800 blight demolitions, plus smart growth and development throughout the community, Miller is looking to the local delegation of the Georgia General Assembly to approve a third term for Macon-Bibb County’s mayor, (16:08).
Currently, the mayor is limited to two 4-year terms while commissioners are allowed three 4-year terms.
“I hope the delegation will respect the request from the commission in the upcoming year to consider three terms for the mayor, whoever that may be, as well as the same three terms or more for the commissioners. I think we’ve seen that we’ve done some good work there and certainly it’s not finished yet. It’s hard to do that within a short period of time,” he said.
Miller will also need money to achieve those goals and he plans a March 18 referendum, (13:20), to continue the extra penny on the dollar Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST.
He wants voters to consider that nearly three-fourths of the money generated is coming from people who don’t live in Macon-Bibb County.
“We’re getting a 71 % gift from those that don’t live in our community without increasing our property taxes. I think we’ve been good stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars in the SPLOST, and that’s a reason to do it,” Miller said.
He thinks it’s the only way to get all the roads repaired and paved, which is his priority, (13:45)
“We can’t charge you enough money on your taxes to pay for all the roads that we have to pave in Macon-Bibb County. That’s going to be the primary focus,” he said.
A new jail or detention facility also has been discussed for the next SPLOST.
Miller also reflected on his inauguration remarks where he called on the community as a whole to join him and the commissioners in affecting change, (00:36)
“I think the message is always going to be one of unity, togetherness and letting people know that we always are going to go big, but we need their help in doing that. We have a new group coming on this year, as well. We have some new commissioners and it’s important for all of us to make sure we’re still part of that Macon-Bibb team and I think we will be,” he said.
— Send your questions for the next Ask Mayor Miller to [email protected]. Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities for The Macon Newsroom and can be reached at [email protected] or 478-301-2976.
