Macon-Bibb Commission and FY'24 budget

Mayor Lester Miller unveiled plans Tuesday evening for the nearly $204 million Fiscal 2024 budget that includes a proposed 5 mill property tax rollback that is offset by collections on the Other Local Option Sales Tax of a penny on the dollar. Miller included his prior two budgets as he calculated the three-year increase in spending for priorities in his administration that would occur if the budget is approved June 20. Since he took office, public safety spending will have increased nearly $12 million and beautification efforts would see a $1.7 million increase under this proposal. Miller's expanding role for code enforcement resulted in a 3-year increase of $827.5 K and the FY'24 budget would amount to a nearly $1.8 million boost for recreation spending. The mayor also added another $500K for pedestrian safety, which amounts to $1.1 million since the FY'22 budget. Miller also is increasing spending for economic development by more than $4.2 over three years and adding an extra $1.9 million for health and community services through his administration. Although the required legal ad did not run in the May 17 edition of The Telegraph as planned, Miller and legal counsel say that shouldn't affect the timeline for budget approval if the ad runs this week. A public hearing is scheduled for June 6 at 5 p.m. and the County Commission will vote June 20 on Miller's spending plan. The budget presentation followed the Committee of the Whole meeting that included approving federal HUD funding distributed through the Economic and Community Development department. During the commission's regular session, local NAACP President Gwen Westbook commended Miller and the Commission for averting the pending fare hike for the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority. Here are highlights from agenda captured in tweets sent during the meetings.