Macon-Bibb officials greenlight $280 million SPLOST

Bibb County residents will vote this fall on a $280 million sales tax referendum barring a last-minute snag.

The Macon-Bibb County Commission approved Tuesday the special purpose local option sales tax measure that, beginning in April 2018, would be used on numerous projects. But the final decision on whether the penny-on-the-dollar sales tax is continued will likely be made by voters in November.

As a matter of formality, the Macon-Bibb County elections board is expected to hold a special called meeting this week to add the measure to the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

Tuesday’s vote was 8-0 with Commissioner Bert Bivins being absent.

For Mayor Robert Reichert, Tuesday’s unanimous vote signifies how the SPLOST is representative of each of the districts that commissioners represent. The project list was developed over the past several months through a series of meetings, most of which were facilitated by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.

“You don’t have a group that feels disenfranchised or left out,” Reichert said. “It’s a good blend of infrastructure issues like storm water and closing the landfill and adding to the courthouse so that those are more effective and efficient. As well as recreational issues, cultural (facilities) and economic development.”

Beyond the $90 million jump in revenue collections, there are also a few other major differences between the 2012 SPLOST and the latest SPLOST referendum. The $280 million SPLOST assigns money into 10 categories, ranging from roads and bridges to recreation and cultural facilities. It lists various projects within each pot, but does not assign a specific dollar amount.

▪  Landfill: $20 million

▪  Courthouse repairs and upgrades: $40 million

▪  Blight remediation: $12 million

▪  Economic development: $29 million

▪  Storm water: $25 million

▪  Debt retirement: $13.5 million

▪  Roads/bridges/transportation: $35 million

▪  Public safety: $25 million

▪  Recreation: $43.5 million

▪  Cultural/public use facilities: $37 million

Officials have said this will provide them more flexibility in case they need to move funds around if a project’s costs runs higher or lower than expected. For instance, in some cases the price of labor changes by the time the project goes out for bid, which could limit the scope if a specific dollar amount was assigned, Macon-Bibb County spokesman Chris Floore said.

Also, unlike the current $190 million SPLOST, which has a six-year window for collections, the new SPLOST could be collected over an unlimited amount of time because Macon-Bibb is a consolidated government. Once the $280 million goal is reached, then the SPLOST collections would end.

Since collections began in April 2012, there has been $123.6 million of revenue brought in by tax, Floore said.

The current SPLOST has been used to pay for projects that include roadwork, upgrades to recreation centers and the construction of fire stations, an animal shelter and a juvenile justice center.

Among the cultural arts facilities in the $280 million SPLOST are the Macon City Auditorium, Grand Opera House and Tubman Museum. About a dozen Macon parks and recreation centers, including Filmore Thomas Recreation Area, John D. Smith Tennis Center and Freedom and Central City parks are in the SPLOST.

New Year’s Eve event gets funding

Macon-Bibb County officials agreed Tuesday to fund a New Year’s Eve celebration, but the location was changed after some residents voiced opposition to using Rosa Parks Square.

The commission approved providing $5,500 for the event that would be held Dec. 31. The resolution says that either NewTown Macon or the Cherry Blossom Festival organizations would have to oversee the event in order for it to be held.

A last-minute amendment made by Commissioner Al Tillman moved the celebration from Rosa Parks Square to another downtown site. Some people spoke out against Rosa Parks Square because they said it was a passive park that should not host a large event like a New Year’s Eve celebration.

“We’ve asked that NewTown set up in the street at Poplar and First or right in the middle of Cotton and First, or possibly another location downtown just to minimize the concerns that some have issues with,” Tillman said during the pre-commission meeting.

Tillman led efforts to revive a New Year’s event in downtown in 2015. The event would fill the void of the former New Year’s Eve Cherry Blossom Ball Drop.

This story was originally published August 2, 2016 at 7:52 PM with the headline "Macon-Bibb officials greenlight $280 million SPLOST."