Milledgeville, Baldwin voters reject merger, approve sales tax proposal

Voters in the city of Milledgeville and Baldwin County overwhelmingly rejected a proposed merger of their two governments Tuesday.

But Baldwin voters approved continuing a one-cent sales tax to pay for school upgrades.

On the consolidation bid, almost 69 percent of voters, counting both the city and unincorporated Baldwin, turned down a proposal to join the two as a consolidated city-county. Within the city alone, 64 percent of voters said no.

Countywide, it was 5,170 votes against the merger and 2,374 for it. Within Milledgeville, 1,375 people voted down the proposal and 767 approved it.

The plan would have erased city lines and set up elections for a new five-member county commission plus a vice mayor and mayor elected at large.

But by turning down the charter, voters said they want the city and county to continue their separate lives. The measure required approval in both the city and in the county overall, which includes the city.

Turnout was high for a nonpresidential election year, at about 41 percent.

"We're very pleased with the results," said Gregory Barnes, leader of the Committee Opposing Consolidation.

Critics including Barnes have contended that the charter proposed a marriage without much of a prenuptial agreement. They predicted that the plan would allow the new commission to continue giving city residents more services, such as sidewalks, but with part of the bill shifting to the rest of the county.

They also complained that supporters did not commission a nonpartisan, academic study of the potential costs and benefits of unification. They have also said the maps unfairly diluted the voting power of black communities.

"We hope that this is a done deal and that the other side will honor the will of the people," Barnes said.

One of the leading supporters of consolidation, state Rep. Rusty Kidd, I-Milledgeville, said he will still push consolidation because he thinks it is the best thing for the whole county.

He said supporters want to sit down with opponents in the next week or two to "see what they didn't like and see if we can make changes to the charter."

Kidd and other supporters have long said merged government would mean better public services at a cheaper price. They often pitched the example of a single fire department to replace the separate services that operate on opposite sides of a sometimes confusing zigzag city-county line.

Kidd said cash savings of perhaps $5 million would come over two years, when some employees who choose to leave would not need to be replaced. He also said a merger would allow the whole area to speak with one voice when it comes to attracting new job-creating investments.

"It's disappointing in some aspects," Kidd said. "It took multiple tries in other places."

Another referendum would first need approval by the state Legislature, which begins its next session in January.

Several other Georgia places, including Athens-Clarke, Augusta-Richmond and Macon-Bibb, are already consolidated governments.

EXTRA PENNY FOR EDUCATION

Baldwin voters approved continuing a one-cent sales tax to pay for public school projects countywide. The tally was 5,314 in favor and 2,192 against. That's about 71 percent approval.

The tax was pitched to pay for cameras and secure vestibules at all six schools, plus various maintenance and renovations at other schools and facilities as needed.

Creekside Elementary School has the longest to-do list, as its roof and heating and air system have reached the end of their expected life spans.

The district's plan also includes spending on technology, upgrades to athletics facilities, as well as textbooks and music equipment.

The tax will last for five years or until $37.5 million is collected, whichever comes first.

To contact writer Maggie Lee, e-mail mlee@macon.com.

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 9:46 PM with the headline "Milledgeville, Baldwin voters reject merger, approve sales tax proposal ."