Macon-Bibb County approves $219.8M budget for the coming year. What’s in it

The Macon-Bibb County Board of Commission approved a budget of almost $219.8 million Tuesday night, which will fund the county from July 1 to June 30, 2026.

The budget remains largely unchanged from the proposed budget presented in May, with increases to salaries and benefits for county employees a priority, as well as more money for public safety, recreation, information technology and beautification.

Public safety is more than half the budget

One of the biggest areas of funding is public safety — a bin that includes funding for county courts, the county coroner’s office, the district attorney’s office and the county public defender. The approved budget will allocate more than $122 million towards these offices.

According to a presentation on the budget delivered during Tuesday’s meeting, Macon-Bibb County’s public safety budget has increased steadily over the last four fiscal years. Between fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2026, the amount of money going towards public safety has grown more than $28 million.

Recreation and beautification see more money

Recreation and beautification also saw big increases to their funding. Recreation covers the creation and maintenance of parks and community spaces in the county, while beautification entails improvements to county properties including landscaping, irrigation, litter control and community programs.

The recreation budget will increase by about $638,000 for a total budget of $7.7 million, while beautification is getting a $57,667 increase for a total budget of nearly $4.7 million.

Will taxes go up because of the budget increases?

No. A budget presentation Tuesday indicated the millage rate will remain at 9.9 — the millage rate determines property taxes. This is unchanged from last year, and a decrease from four years ago, when the millage rate was about 20.3.

Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller said the millage rate remaining low and stable is thanks to voters approving the Other Local Option Sales Tax as well as smarter spending and budgeting by county departments and officials.

“I’m proud of our departments for focusing their work on our community’s highest priorities and our budget and finance teams for getting them the funding they need,” Miller said in a statement Tuesday evening.