MACON, Ga. — Editors note: This story was contributed by the Reg Murphy Center for Collaborative Journalism at Mercer University.
The Macon-Bibb County Commission adjusted the fiscal year 2024 budget Tuesday to allocate almost $15.5 million, including nearly $1.2 million in unbudgeted revenue it underestimated from the annual insurance premium tax which fluctuates annually.
The bulk of the money, $9 million, prepays FY 25 debt service, according to Commission documents. Here are some of the bigger ticket items on the list attached to the ordinance:
- $1.3 million under IT for LiDAR and imagery — This equipment directly measures the height and density of vegetation on the ground. County spokesman Chris Floore said LiDAR “sets the base for accuracy for all our GIS data.” The information generates contours and information about stormwater and location data analysis. The tool is helpful for IT, engineering, the tax assessor’s office and the Macon Water Authority, Floore said.
- $636,000 for the contract with SAFEbuilt building services
- $465,000 for facilities management for a government-wide telephone system, including $15,000 for work at Fort Hawkins
- $450,000 for equipment at Lake Tobesofkee
- $400,000 for an emergency sinkhole repair behind Fire Station No. 2 on Monroe Street and to identify other vulnerable areas
- $346,000 for furniture and software for the Board of Elections
- $329,700 for code enforcement vehicles
- $295,000 for fire department equipment
- $273,739 for probate court
- $250,000 in improvements at Macon Mall
- $250,000 for demolition of the old airport Fixed Base Operations building to make way for the new guitar-shaped FBO to handle private aircraft and charter flights
The county also shifted to this year’s budget $12.1 million approved for the airport renovation projects in the last fiscal year but was not spent.
At the conclusion of Tuesday’s 30-minute executive session in the pre-commission meeting, commissioners approved spending $730,000 for 1.34 acres of land at the site of the old batting cages in the 100 block of Walnut Street. Floore said the county plans to clear those lots at the corner of Seventh Street to provide additional parking for Carolyn Crayton Park now that the Macon Housing Authority built an affordable housing complex on the opposite corner that had been used for Cherry Blossom Festival parking in the past.
County commissioners also welcomed results of a recent Sound Diplomacy music study commissioned through the Macon Arts Alliance.
Julie Wilkerson, the alliance’s executive director, noted Macon-Bibb County’s potential to strengthen the economic impact of music and arts in the community.
Learn more about Tuesday’s discussions and agenda items in highlights from the pre-commission and board of commissioners meetings captured through social media posts of the proceedings: