Macon mayor hopes to again reduce property taxes, though city is spending more money

Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller plans to lower taxes by dropping millage rates again, he announced in a Tuesday news release.

The millage rate is the rate used to calculate property taxes. It plays a major role in determining the amount of tax dollars that go towards city government.

Miller said he is recommending the Macon-Bibb County Board of Commissioners vote during its Tuesday meeting to lower the millage rate to 9.9 mills, which is down 0.823 mills from last year and down 10.431 mills since Miller took office.

But with taxes dropping, Macon is still spending more: public safety, recreation, beautification and economic development spending has increased by a combined total of $25 million. Macon projections for the city’s 2025 revenue also project more money coming in for taxes, services and revenue from other government agencies.

So, how could this potential decrease in taxes impact city spending? We took a look at county budget records to find out.

Multiple sources of revenue

While the millage rate has steadily decreased over the last three years, the county’s revenue has not.

The county’s total revenue decreased from $216.4 million in fiscal year 2023 to just under $203.9 million in fiscal year 2024. But revenue is projected to rise to about $211.6 million in fiscal year 2025 even as the millage rate drops again.

Even with the millage rate decreasing, tax revenue isn’t decreasing every year. While it dropped from $199 million in fiscal year 2023 to $184.9 million in fiscal year 2024, it is projected to jump to $189.6 million in 2025. Rising property values paired with other sources of tax revenue, including local option sales taxes and taxes on vehicles and motor homes, has ensured Bibb County’s tax revenue doesn’t drastically decrease.

Much of the money making up the difference came from other government entities. That includes grants, shared revenues or payments in lieu of taxes. Between fiscal years 2023 and 2025, that intergovernmental revenue is projected to rise $971,000.

The county also saw a sharp increase in charges for services, which are fees the government charges citizens and entities for services. That revenue increased by about $742,000 over the three years, going from $6.3 million in fiscal year 2023 to a predicted $7 million in fiscal year 2025.

Business licenses and permits, which increased by $620,000 between fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2025 according to projections, also buoyed the lowered millage rate.

Notably, the biggest increase was in the county’s investment income, which went from a loss of $236,000 in fiscal year 2023 to predicted gains of $1.3 million in fiscal year 2025.

What is the money being spent on?

Even as the millage rate has lowered, there haven’t been significant decreases in county funding. In fact, some areas have even received more money.

Among the biggest increases in money is for recreation, which increased more than $1 million between fiscal years 2023 and 2025. Beautification also saw growth, with that budget increasing by more than $700,000.

Public safety — which includes the fire department, sheriff’s office and emergency services — also saw a notable increase, largely due to salary increases and improved benefits for employees. The budget increased by more than $5.6 million between fiscal years 2023 and 2025. The county’s budget for pedestrian safety stayed stable at $500,000 for all three years.

Finally, another area that saw big increases was economic development, which goes towards supporting businesses and growth in Bibb County. Between fiscal years 2023 and 2025, that budget increased by more than $520,000.