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'Get 6 people to meet in the middle:' Bibb mayor says commissioners need to compromise on budget

This comes after several deficits have left the county close to draining their savings.

Bibb commissioners are still unable to agree on next year's budget, and with the deadline quickly approaching, Mayor Robert Reichert says they have to act fast.

“How important it is for us to come together and approve a budget,” says Reichert.

Reichert says commissioners need to agree now more than ever.

“If we go up 3.29 mills, by my mathematical calculation that is $108.57 a year on a $100,000 house of additional taxes,” says Reichert.

Reichert presented four budgets: two included a 3.29 mill increase each with different cuts, one had even more cuts but a lower mill increase at 2.99 mills and then the last one had the most cuts with a 2.75 mill increase.

But none of the budgets got more than two votes, so Commissioner Joe Allen motioned to table the vote and Commissioner Elaine Lucas seconded.

“Send this process back to the operations committee where it belongs,” says Lucas.

Now, Reichert says they have to hold a special called meeting on the 28th because if the budget is not approved by the 30th, he says it could lead to the county getting sued.

“It’s not appropriate to spend money that’s not legally been appropriated,” says Reichert.

But with the commissioners unable to agree, Reichert says some commissioners are just going to have to compromise.

“It’s just a matter of convincing some folks to give a little bit on this side and others to give a little bit on that side, and try to come together and get six people to meet in the middle,” says Reichert.

Reichert says the special called meeting will be June 28th at 1 p.m. inside the Government Center.

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Bibb commissioners have put off a vote on next year's budget and a possible tax increase.

They were scheduled to meet Tuesday evening when Mayor Robert Reichert would present two different budgets in hopes of getting one passed.

The first budget includes a 3.29 mill increase without any furlough days for county employees.

The other budget includes three furlough days but a lower property tax increase at 2.99 mills.

Around 6 p.m., commissioners announced there will be no vote Tuesday night.

The budget needs at least 6 votes to go through and they have until June 30th to do that.

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