No property tax increase is planned for Macon-Bibb County although Mayor Lester Miller warns of financial challenges ahead that take strategic planning to meet the needs of the people without overburdening taxpayers.
The proposed $221.5 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget is $1.6 million more than FY ‘26 and represents increases in spending for some departments and reductions for others.
More than half of the money, $122.5 million, covers salaries and benefits.
Miller said it was the hardest budget he’s worked on since serving on the Bibb County School Board following former superintendent Romain Dallemand’s era.
In the current season of economic uncertainty, Miller asked department heads to reduce spending by 10% and prioritize needs as fuel, healthcare, trash pickup and pension costs rise.
“We have to make cuts and tighten up our belts just like we ask our people to do at home,” Miller said Tuesday evening. “We want them to live within their means and we’re trying to live within our means to make sure to provide all the things we need.”
Public safety spending increased $3.5 million since last year and by $31.7 million since Miller took office.
A $525K annual contract for expanded ShotSpotter coverage to audibly detect and pinpoint gunfire in high-crime areas will now come from the county’s general fund. American Rescue Plan Act funds were available to launch the program in 2022.
Information Technology spending is up by nearly a half-million from last year and has increased by more than $3.8 million in the Miller administration.
“Technology is one of those things you can’t fall behind,” Miller said. “We must stay on top of that.”
Although he lamented many of today’s youth don’t play outside or take advantage of county-sponsored activities, more than $8 million dollars, about a quarter-million more than last year, is proposed for recreation after multiple renovation projects funded by SPLOST collections in recent years.
Providing camps and programs for young people is part of the Macon Violence Program, he noted.
Miller’s nearly $4.3 million beautification budget calls for about a $400K reduction over last year after that line item increased by $1.8 million over six years.
Miller credited that reduction in the beautification budget to the county’s lower costs for mowing services due to relationships forged through the county’s office of Small Business Affairs.
The mayor said he could cut that budget by $2 million if people would stop throwing trash out the car window, littering streets and illegally dumping.
“How many times have we cleaned up under the Spring Street bridge? I can tell you it’s been about 100 times since I’ve been here,” said Miller, who took office in 2021.
Since then, Miller reduced the millage rate, or the rate property is taxed, by more than half from 20.3 to 9.5, which is where he plans to leave it for a second year.
As a result, property tax revenue dropped from about $80.9 million in FY’22 to $58.4 million last year and is projected to stay the same.
Miller credited passage of the Local Option Sales Tax that allowed him to further reduce property taxes.
“We’re doing much, much more with a lot less,” he said.
Because Macon-Bibb has a balanced budget, it is revenue constrained and can only spend what it takes in.
Miller dispelled the notion that increased property values offset that millage rate reduction by showing property tax revenue dropped from $80.9 million in FY’22 to $58.3 million last year.
Over the same period, sales tax revenue increased from about $38 million per year to $44 million, hotel-motel taxes have increased and a new daily occupation tax was enacted this year for travelers who spend up to 30 nights in town.
Miller warned that campaign trail promises to freeze or cap property taxes can cripple growth because Macon-Bibb will have to reduce services or put off infrastructure improvements because the county cannot spend more than it takes in.
Miller’s approach to offset any future state-mandated property tax reductions with other revenue sources is the reasoning behind plans to build a new arena and civic center that are expected to further grow tourism and convention revenue.
“We’ve been planning for this for a while and we’re in good shape, much better shape than most people are in our area,” Miller said.
The strategy is to balance property tax reductions with new or increasing sources of revenue to make sure the citizens’ needs are met, he said.
“This budget says we value our public safety, we value our employees, we value their benefits and we’re not going to let those folks in (Washington) D.C., those folks at the capitol in the state of Georgia dictate what we provide for our citizens. We’re going to be smart about it with a balanced approach.”
During the budget review process, any additional spending would result in cuts in another area.
The tax digest won’t be available until later in the year, so any additional revenue generated by increasing property values could result in budget adjustments.
The public is invited to share thoughts on the spending plan during a 5:30 p.m. public hearing June 2 at City Hall.
The date for the final budget vote will be determined once any changes are finalized following suggestions from the public and county commissioners.
The FY’27 budget can be reviewed at maconbibb.us/proposedfy27budget.
— Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabain covers Macon-Bibb County government entities for The Macon Newsroom and can be reached at [email protected] or 478-301-2976.
