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Commissioner responds after Macon-Bibb Mayor vetoes $1,000 bonus for city employees

"We have to take care of the people. They are the backbone in this," Bibb County Commissioner Joe Allen said.

MACON, Ga. — Bibb County workers are learning that the $1,000 bonus recently passed by commissioners is not coming after all.

Last Tuesday commissioners passed the one-time $1,000 bonus for workers that would cost taxpayers about $2.3 million. 

On Wednesday night, Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert vetoed the proposal. He wrote a letter to commissioners about his decision.

RELATED: Macon Mayor vetoes $1,000 bonus for city employees

"Spending this money now hampers our ability to give them raises that will benefit them for years, not just once," Reichert said. 

He went on to say the commissioner's intent is to give county employees a $1,000 check, "but if that is a pre-tax check, then employees would receive less than $1,000," which he believes will cause "distrust" in the process. 

Commissioner Joe Allen sponsored the original proposal to spend more than $2 million from the county's general fund for the bonuses.

"We have to take care of the people. They are the backbone in this. We have to take care of the people in the community, and that is what we are going to do," Allen said. 

Bibb County Sheriff David Davis addressed commissioners before asking for salary increases for deputies and other county employees. He said it would help Macon compete with surrounding counties.

"Especially those lowest paid employees. So, that $1,000 really will make a difference for them," Davis said. 

In the letter, Reichert said consolidation in 2014 forced the county to reduce its budgets, meaning employees had to take on more duties with fewer resources.

Commissioner Allen told 13WMAZ says he plans on fighting the veto because he believes something needs to be done to help first responders.

"There are a lot of people who haven't had a raise in years. This is going to help those families," Allen said. 

The mayor says he wants to conduct a pay study to adjust the pay scale for the county. In the meantime, he says he is concerned the proposed bonus would hurt the county's finances.

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