Macon-Bibb Commission June 20, 2023

Property owners in Bibb County will see at least a five mill rollback in the millage rate under the nearly $204 million budget approved June 20. Mayor Lester Miller says the tax digest is expected to be larger this year due to growth in the community and industries now paying the full amount of taxes after using the PILOT or Payment in Lieu of Taxes program in their first years of operation. Once the digest is finalized in August, the county is expected to roll back the millage rate further to compensate for any revenue windfall instead of keeping that money in the general fund, which would require holding public hearings to keep that revenue. Commissioners also revamped the policy and procedures manual to streamline the process for filing employee grievances, eliminate the probationary period and clarify that the county can fire anyone at will. The change also clarified the list of offenses for which a person can be dismissed, and removed the mandatory termination provision for a positive drug test for marijuana and other substances. Senior Assistant County Attorney Michael McNeill said an employee can still be disciplined and possibly terminated for failing a drug test, but the county no longer will have a zero tolerance policy but consider offenses on a case-by-case basis. Here are highlights from the County Commission meetings captured in tweets sent during the proceedings and a public hearing to close the undeveloped right-of-way on Bonita Place to allow former Mayor Robert Reichert to purchase the property.