UPDATE: Bibb County Voters Weigh In on Board of Education Tax Bill

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — State Senator Cecil Staton filed Senate Bill 247 on Monday, which gives the Bibb County voters the opportunity to decide if they want to take the taxing authority away from the Bibb Board of Education.

Many Bibb residents say they’re glad to have the opportunity to vote, but Angelia Preston says, the board should keep the power.

“Why would we take all the power from the board? What would their job be then?” said Angelia Preston.

Blake Segelman is glad the state leaders aren’t dictating what’s happening in his county.

“I don’t understand why some guy that’s disjointed from the state would go ahead and vote on it. We should vote on it ourselves,” said Segelman.

The bill states that the BOE would have to submit their budget to the commission of Macon-Bibb County to be approved each year.

Staton initially presented the bill as a change to the current structure, he’s since changed it to a referendum that will be presented to the voters in a special election.

Resident Lora Crowe is glad the bill is going to a ballot.

“It’s our money that I work very hard for to be able to support my family, as well as educate other people’s children, so I feel very strongly that we should have at least some voice in that,” said Crowe.

While Michael Preston believes his voice should be heard, like his wife, he feels the BOE shouldn’t be stripped of their power.

“They are responsible for our children, and the rules and regulations that they should go by, so I feel like that the board should really be in charge of making those decisions,” said Michael Preston.

The bill states that if it’s approved by the United States Department of Justice, voters will make the decision on the third Tuesday in June of 2013.

Citizens will say yes or no to the following question on the ballot:

“Shall the Act which consolidates the taxing authority in Macon-Bibb County by proving that the governing authority of the Macon-Bibb County shall approve and levy the school system taxes be approved?”

Senator Staton couldn’t be reached by phone Monday, but he sent this statement to 41NBC via e-mail:

“I have been encouraged by the feedback I have received from constituents since announcing my plans for this bill. Because the measure was approved through ballot initiative originally, I have become convinced that voters deserve the chance to express their will once again. Although some elected officials have expressed their disapproval, the vast majority of communications I have received have been supportive. A consolidated government needs only one taxing authority. If the sheriff and judicial officials of the consolidated government require approval of their budgets through the consolidated commission, then so should the board of education. The tax payers deserve accountability.”