Only 2% of Macon voters so far have cast a ballot in sales tax referendum backed by mayor
In a final push to get Macon-Bibb County voters to the polls, the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce held a press conference Thursday with Mayor Lester Miller to show their support for a sales tax increase and property tax decrease.
“Let me share with you that this is a monumental opportunity for the citizens in Macon-Bibb. We can elevate economic development. We can preserve and create job opportunities. We can create capital investments, and we can also support public safety and very important infrastructure needs for our community,” said Yvonne Williams, president and CEO of the Chamber.
The OLOST, or Other Local Option Sales Tax, would add a penny sales tax on the dollar for county purchases and services to allow a property tax rollback. The revenue from the tax, an estimated $30 million per year, would be used for public safety services, road repair and more, Miller said.
“It was signed into law in May of this year. What we want to do is get across the finish line now,” Miller said.
Macon-Bibb County property taxes would initially be reduced by 5 mills according to House Bill 575, and Miller said the county expects property taxes to decrease around 35-40%.
Miller said 70% of the OLOST will be paid by people who don’t live in Bibb County because they either pass through Bibb County while they are traveling or they are here to visit.
“This is the one chance, the one opportunity we have for the most historical tax decrease that our community has ever had,” Miller said. “If you vote yes on this referendum, this helps our entire community by making us more competitive to attract those good quality jobs that we so desperately need to make sure that our children have opportunities and hope.”
After the polls closed on Wednesday, 2,153 people cast their ballots at early in-person voting in Bibb County, which is 2% of the active registered voters in Bibb County. Another 349 absentee ballots have been returned to the Board of Elections office with two being rejected.
Early in-person voting will end Friday at 5:30 p.m., and people can place their ballots at the Board of Elections office at 2525 Pio Nono Avenue or the Elaine Lucas Senior Center at 132 Willie Smokie Glover Drive.
Tuesday will be the last day people can place their ballots, and people will vote at their designated voting precinct that day. There are several other elections in communities across Middle Georgia:
Houston County elections
Three city council positions and the mayor’s seat are up for grabs this fall in Warner Robins:
Mayoral candidates
Randy Toms (Incumbent)
Stephen Baughier
LaRhonda W. Patrick
City Council Post 1
Derek B. Mack (Incumbent)
Leslie Morales
Jonathan “Jon” D. Nichols
City Council Post 3
Angie Eugene
Scott A. Howard
Keith Lauritsen (Incumbent)
City Council Post 5
Clifford Holmes, Jr. (Incumbent)
Michael Jones
In Perry, the only contested race is for City Council - District 2 between incumbent Robert Jones and William D. Phelps. Centerville’s mayoral seat and two city council seats are uncontested.
Other Middle GA races
In Fort Valley, councilman Lemario Brown is running against Jefferey Lundy to replace current Mayor Barbara Williams. Lundy was at first disqualified from the race for failing to meet residency requirements, but a superior court judge reversed the decision.
There are three contested city council races in Milledgeville:
District 1
Collinda Lee (incumbent)
Torie Stewart
District 5
Jessica McQuain
Richard “Boo” Mullins” (incumbent)
District 6
Steve Chambers (incumbent)
Daisy Childs
This story was originally published October 28, 2021 at 12:07 PM.