Work set to begin on next round of special tax projects in Macon
Macon-Bibb County officials will begin developing a list of projects that could be funded by special sales taxes.
The County Commission voted Tuesday to begin preparing a list of special purpose local option sales tax projects that residents will likely vote on in November. If approved, the penny sales tax would be extended from a 2012 SPLOST that has generated about $155 million thus far.
The cap on that SPLOST is $190 million, and revenue can come in until early 2018.
Multiple recreation center upgrades, stormwater improvements as well as the construction of fire stations, a juvenile justice center and an animal shelter are among projects funded by the $155 million already collected.
The county will have to schedule public hearings, finalize a list and then send notice to the Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections of intentions to hold a SPLOST vote on the Nov. 8 ballot, according to the resolution.
"I'm excited to initiate the process so we can discuss among ourselves and community the projects we want to see accomplished," Mayor Robert Reichert said.
Some commissioners want a new SPLOST to focus more heavily on road improvements, including better striping of lanes, and some have suggested reserving 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.
RESOLUTION SUPPORTS NAMING BRIDGE AFTER FORMER MAYOR
Commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday to support naming a bridge crossing after former Macon Mayor Lee Robinson.
The resolution calls for the Interstate 75 crossing between 1690-1760 Riverside Drive to be named "WM. Lee Robinson Memorial Bridge." The resolution came at the request of the local state legislators, who want to honor Robinson on the state route, Reichert said.
Robinson, who passed away Nov. 4, 2015, is a former Georgia state senator and served as Macon's mayor from 1987-1991.
He also was a decorated war veteran having earned three Bronze Star Medals and an Army Commendation Medal, the resolution said.
The naming of the bridge crossing would become official after it receives approval from state officials.
NEW DEPARTMENT HEADS APPOINTED
The County Commission appointed department heads for Municipal Court and the Information and Technology Department.
LaTonya Slaughter was named the clerk of Municipal Court and Brett Lavender is head of the IT department. The latest appointments bring the number of new Macon-Bibb department heads up to nine since December.
The county lost many of its department leaders to early retirement buyouts in 2015.
Slaughter has worked with the Macon Municipal Court since 1998, while Lavender comes to Macon after having worked as the IT director for Clayton County.
MACON'S 911 FEES TO GET CLOSER EXAMINATION
Macon-Bibb County has hired legal counsel to find out of its collecting the right amount of 911 fees.
The attorneys will examine if the county is owed 911 surcharge fees from phone companies and if so, "take necessary steps to collect the fees," Reichert said last week.
To contact writer Stanley Dunlap, call 744-4623 or find him on Twitter@stan_telegraph.
This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 7:34 PM with the headline "Work set to begin on next round of special tax projects in Macon ."