Commission could dump current garbage fee collection

Macon residents could see a big change in how they pay for garbage and recycling services.

The latest discussion on having the fees put on residents’ annual property tax bill is expected Tuesday during a County Commission work session. The idea — which commissioners broached earlier this year — is to increase the percentage of collections that Macon-Bibb County receives.

Now, the garbage and recycling fee is billed quarterly. Over the past two years, the property tax collection rate is about 97 percent, compared with a little more than 90 percent for garbage collection, Tax Commissioner Wade McCord told commissioners earlier this year.

The county is owed about $7 million in past due garbage collection fees.

Commissioner Gary Bechtel said if officials decide to make the change to try to improve collection rates, there would need to be a transition period. With property tax bills about to be mailed out soon, there’s probably not enough time to add it to this year’s tax statement.

Finding a timeline that works best will be critical, Bechtel said.

“As you try to move from quarterly to annual, you don’t want to double bill people,” he said. “It just takes timing and some real thought on how to make sure it works for the citizens as well as the provider.”

Among the questions that would need answering are determining the impact of switching to annual billing, as well as devising the best methods to let people know about the change, Macon-Bibb County spokesman Chris Floore said.

Similar to the recent change in the amount of the garbage and recycling fees, getting the word out to residents will be imperative. In January, the monthly garbage fee jumped to $20 a month as part of an expanded countywide recycling program.

“Everyone recognizes this could be a significant change,” Floore said.

The shift in how garbage fees are collected last changed in 2006 when the process moved from the Macon Water Authority to the tax commissioner’s office, with the goal of improving a 73 percent collection rate. The Macon-Bibb County code says the tax commissioner has the ability to place liens on properties if an owner is delinquent on garbage fees.

Commissioner Ed DeFore said he’d want to hear more figures and details about adding the collection to property taxes. DeFore, who once fought against having residents pay for garbage service, said he’d like to see if it’s feasible to eliminate the fees.

“What they ought to do is do away with it altogether like some other cities,” he said.

Park restrictions heads to committee

Tree climbers may have to stay out of the limbs in Macon parks.

An ordinance headed to a Macon-Bibb County Commission Tuesday lists multiple prohibited activities in parks that could be added to the county’s code.

The first one would restrict people from climbing trees, shrubs, fountains, art or a monument unless it’s been designated for that purpose. People also must use specific entrances to go in and out of parks, and visitors cannot place poles, stakes or posts into the ground without the county’s permission.

The County’s Parks and Beautification and Recreation departments would also need to give the OK before anyone leaves animals “including but not limited to cats, ducks, raccoons, opossums, fish and dogs” inside a park.

Some of the other activities addressed in the resolution include preventing the changing of clothes unless in a designated area or posting signs and advertisements unless it’s related to a county-approved event.

Adding the section would “demonstrate Macon-Bibb County’s commitment to taking care of the environment and maintaining the green space” in its parks, the ordinance said.

This story was originally published August 8, 2016 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Commission could dump current garbage fee collection."