Macon-Bibb introduces budget for upcoming fiscal year

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon-Bibb County’s mayor says the county’s next budget is $5 million less than it was last year.

Leaders say the reduction is a good thing.

“It’s incredible what our constitutional officers, department heads, and related agencies have been able to work,” Mayor Robert Reichert said.

It’s work to put together the dollars and cents.

“With the consumer price index adjustment that we’re allowed, we have now met the 20% required reduction in overall expense,” he continued.

The budget’s new slogan — “Recalling our past, Macon our future.”

The county’s goal for this year’s budget is to continue reducing costs, keep tax rates low, and an increase in pay for employees.

“They have been diligent. They have been dedicated. They have gone far too long with no pay increase and trying to help us get to this magic moment,” Reichert said referring to the employees that work within the county.

The “magic” number — $142.8 million with help from penny sales taxes, grants, and other funding.

“It allows us to cut the budget over the last two and half years by basically 22 million dollars. We couldn’t do it without the SPLOST,” Macon-Bibb Commissioner Gary Bechtel said.

Leaders say the plan, while initially comprehensive, will take time before finally being approved.

“I think we need to put in context as to what it provides our general budget and the property taxation and things of that nature,” Bechtel said.

Commissioner Bechtel says he and others part of his review board will go over the budget in depth in teh coming weeks to see if any departments will lose significant funding.