Macon-Bibb looking ahead to next sales tax vote, possible projects

Macon-Bibb County voters likely will be asked in November to decide whether to support another special sales tax.

Commissioners are expected to talk Tuesday about making a list of special purpose local option sales tax projects. The current $190 million SPLOST had generated through January about $155 million that already has paid for multiple recreation center projects, Second Street Corridor work and the construction of fire stations, an animal shelter and a juvenile justice center.

The SPLOST also has been used for repairs to the Bibb County Courthouse, a new public safety radio system and various other projects and equipment.

A resolution to begin the SPLOST process is expected to go before a County Commission committee Tuesday. Macon-Bibb officials will set up public hearing dates to get people's input on a new slate of projects. Macon-Bibb department heads already have started developing a wish list of projects.

"The department meetings have gone well," Mayor Robert Reichert said last week. "We've got a lot of good input from them. We'll prepare a resolution to articulate the specifics of the last SPLOST and how far along we are and where we need to continue work."

There has been some discussion about having the SPLOST referendum on the May 24 ballot. But because the projects list would need to be finalized by mid-February to get on that ballot, it makes more sense for the measure to go before voters in November, County Attorney Judd Drake said.

In 2011, about 73 percent of Bibb County voters approved the penny sales tax that increased Bibb's sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent on April 1, 2012. If a new SPLOST is approved in 2016, it would replace the current tax, thus keeping the sales tax at 7 cents on the dollar.

Some commissioners want a new SPLOST to focus more heavily on road improvements , including better striping of lanes, and some have suggested having tens of millions of dollars for blight projects. Another influx of money will be needed to complete the second round of recreation center and park improvements that were started with the current SPLOST, county officials have said.

A retreat for county officials may be needed to hash out which projects will be most beneficial to the county, Commissioner Al Tillman said.

Commissioner Elaine Lucas said November is the best time for the SPLOST referendum because it would coincide with the presidential race and draw the largest number of voters.

"There's been some discussion of where large amounts of resources need to go, so we spread things out over the entire community for street (repairs), storm drainage, more blight money and for recreation so we can finish up projects," Lucas said.

Reichert said it will be imperative for commissioners to come together on this SPLOST list.

"I think we all agree a SPLOST does more to the community than any other single thing we can do," he said. "A fractured commission is not the best way to sell a SPLOST."

Information from The Telegraph's archives was used in this report.

This story was originally published February 7, 2016 at 9:04 PM with the headline "Macon-Bibb looking ahead to next sales tax vote, possible projects ."