MACON, Ga. — Macon-Bibb commissioners are trying, for at least a third time around, to pass a local option sales tax. It's been talked about in the General Assembly for the past few sessions, but hasn't gotten past the House.
If you buy something in Macon-Bibb County today, you pay 7 cents on the dollar. This suggested sales tax, known as OLOST, would tack on another penny. In turn, property taxes could decrease.
"Government doesn't run off water, it runs off money," said state Senator David Lucas.
Many lawmakers, mostly Democrats, believe this sales tax is the answer for consolidated governments like Macon-Bibb.
"You've got to do what you got to do," Lucas said.
All nine Macon-Bibb commissioners are asking lawmakers to consider this resolution.
"Roll back taxes six mills, and then we'd have 20 percent, or $6 million, that would go directly into public safety," said Commissioner Mallory Jones.
The estimated rollback would equal out to a $24 million cut in property taxes within a year. The sales tax could generate up to $30 million.
"Public safety would be fire, police, emergency management, you could buy cars, you could buy equipment," Jones said.
He says last year's bill was vague, but he thinks this has a chance of making it through the General Assembly.
"It's real definitive, real clean-cut," Jones said.
"It's all in the details. As they say, the devil is in the details, and that will bring over the people that are opposed to it," said state Representative Miriam Paris.
However, politicians who opposed the bill last session didn't like that the property tax rollback was required for only a year. That is still in the commission's suggested resolution.
"It wouldn't be permanent, but my intent is for it to be as permanent as we can make it," Jones said.
In addition to getting the General Assembly's support, all consolidated governments in the state would have to be on board.
"If this was passed, then this would be the new law, the new model for consolidated governments," he said.
Then, if it passes the assembly, it would ultimately be up to Macon-Bibb County residents to vote on.
"This would be a fair tax," Jones said. "It would be borne by more people who live outside of Bibb County than those that actually live here."
Jones says this tax would help with two of Macon's major concerns: crime and public safety. He says he hopes to see this on the ballot this November.
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