Latest budget talks include pay raise for firefighters

Macon-Bibb County commissioners continue making headway toward approving a new budget that could include a tax increase.

County Commissioners received some positive news Wednesday that more revenue is expected to come in to cover some additional costs. After factoring in some requests from commissioners, the proposed budget has jumped from about $148 million to slightly under $150 million.

The latest budget draft maintains a proposed 3-mill tax increase that is projected to generate more than $12 million in revenue.

The updated budget includes pay raises for firefighters that would be similar to what Bibb County sheriff’s deputies would receive. The sheriff’s deputies pay increase is expected to start in January after the incentive program ends, Sheriff David Davis said.

Macon-Bibb officials also said they wanted to include some type of employer appreciation for other employees.

The latest tax digest is projected to bring in about $900,000 more in revenue than originally projected. And other taxes, such as the local option sales tax, are expected to bring in more money than what was initially budgeted, Interim County Manager Julie Moore said.

“We have added to the budget to cover fire and recreation and some other concerns,” she said during the Operations and Finance Committee special called meeting Wednesday. “We’ve added to the revenue to balance it. With that said, we’ve not by any means done everything we need to do, but we’ve done a tremendous (amount) to address the pressing issues.”

A public budget hearing will be held Tuesday. County officials are on track to have a new budget approved before the fiscal year ends on June 30.

Mayor Robert Reichert presented the proposed budget to officials on May 9.

Parks and Recreation Director Reggie Moore said there is enough in the budget to handle the new south Bibb recreation center when it opens and some of the other staffing needs.

“I feel more than confident there is enough staffing to move the department forward,” he said.

The current county millage rate, minus the Bibb County school district rate, is 14.652. A 3-mill increase would mean about $99 more a year for property valued at $100,000.

One-mill would cover some additional costs for public safety, recreation and other services. The other 2-mills would keep the county from dipping into the reserve fund.

This story was originally published May 31, 2017 at 6:22 PM with the headline "Latest budget talks include pay raise for firefighters."