Bibb Gives Macon Ultimatum on SPLOST projects

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The Chairman of the Bibb County Commission sends an ultimatum to city leaders: Choose your own projects for a SPLOST vote or the county will.

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert and Bibb County Commission Chairman Sam Hart have been talking about which projects a SPLOST will pay for, for more than a year.

In a letter sent to the Mayor and City Council members Thursday, Hart said:  "Since SPLOST proceeds can only be used on projects approved by the voters, it will be necessary for Bibb County to select which City projects to include on the referendum from the list we have previously discussed.  Obviously, we would much prefer the County not be in this position but without an intergovernmental agreement, we will have no choice."

Mayor Reichert said, "It was a little frustrating and I thought it was a little high-handed of the county to tell us, especially with these ongoing negotiations, if we don't comply with this by a certain date, they're going to just do it for us."  

Reichert says that's not going to happen.  "I don't think that would be the right way to go."  He wants to make sure city projects, like repairing the stormwater system and upgrading recreational facilities are included on the list.

The big ticket item is building an $83 million courthouse.  After enough money is collected for that, the remaining funds will be split among the city, county and Payne City based on population.

41 NBC asked Reichert if he feels the city would get the short-end of the stick should the County choose the SPLOST projects, without the City's input.  He said, "The whole community might end up getting the short-end of the stick."

Hart declined going on-camera with us to talk about the letter; saying only "it speaks for itself."

City council members we talked to said they were surprised by the letter.  Tom Ellington, Vice Chairman of the Appropiations Committee, said, "I was disappointed to learn that negotiations seemed to have broken down the way they have."

Reichert plans to meet with Hart at the end of the month -- with lawyers present -- to work on an agreement.  They have to give the Election Superintendent a list of projects the SPLOST will pay for by April 30th, to be included on a July ballot.