Macon Appropriations Votes No to Picking up Consolidation Costs

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon Appropriations Committee voted 2-2 Monday night to turn down an ordinance that would have provided $250,000 from the city’s reserve fund to cover consolidation costs.

The funds would be used to pay for consultants and other services that have already been or will be used by the Consolidation Transition Task Force.

During the meeting, councilwoman Elaine Lucas said she has never been in support of consolidation and that she wouldn’t vote to support an ordinance that would require her constituents to pay for it.

Lucas and councilman Virgil Watkins, Jr. both voted no, while councilwoman Beverly Olson and committee chairman Tom Ellington voted yes.

The split vote means for now, the city won’t release the money from its reserve fund, but the consolidation legislation, approved by voters in July, says all costs for the effort must be covered by the city and county.

Early Voting on Agenda for Tuesday

The Ordinances and Resolutions Committee voted Monday night to add a resolution to Tuesday night’s full council agenda that will call on the Bibb County Commisssion to fund one or more additional locations for early voting before the next general election and to increase the number of Saturdays including during the period from one to two.