Chairman and Mayor Hold SPLOST Listening Session in Macon

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert, and Bibb County Chairman Sam Hart, held a listening session today with a clear message;

Voters need to pass the SPLOST in this year’s election.

Both men persisted that voters get out this November 8th and pass the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, to help communities move forward and attract more business.

Included in the tax are items like major road repairs, three new fire stations, and allowing the county to take over parks and recreation.

Hart and Reichert added that since they are working together to compromise on a service delivery program between the city and county, citizens now need to work with them and pass the SPLOST.

Both men agreed having listening sessions is vital to finding out exactly what voters do, and do not want.

“A lot of times you just hear one side of the issue,” Hart explains. “That’s why we…open it up for listening sessions, so people come and we get the input of some of the things they like.”

“Once the (SPLOST) list is finalized, the money has to be spent to complete thoe projects. And only those projects. You can’t take the money and put it in your general fund, and it’s not a slush fund you can do whatever with. You’ve got to complete the project,” Reichert says.

For a complete list and wording of the projects on this year’s SPLOST list, click here for Bibb County’s website.

The city of Macon also has the list on their website. Click here.