Robert Brown fielded a question about unpaid taxes and garbage fees during Thursday evening's mayoral debate at 13WMAZ.
More than $1,400 are owed on the property at 218 Forest Ave., which Brown once owned.
Brown said Brenda Bradley gave him the property and he's now given it back.
"The property has now been deeded to a friend who originally owned the property," Brown said. "For reasons that are personal, she had deeded the property to me. Now, she has requested that the property be deeded back to her, and we have done that."
Bibb County property records show Brown deeded the property to Bradley for a dollar on June 24, two days after 13WMAZ reported the back taxes and garbage fees.
Brown said he never owed the taxes because Bradley agreed to pay.
"I want to make it clear," Brown said. "I have not abdicated on my responsibilities as far as taxes are concerned. If you would check the records carefully, you would see that tax bill for that property went directly to that address. All of my other tax bills came directly to me."
Although addressed to Brown, records confirm the past due tax and garbage bills went to the Forest Avenue address. Brown's other tax bills went to his office on New Street.
Earlier, Bradley told 13WMAZ that she had agreed to pay the tax and garbage fee, but had fallen behind because of tough economic times.
Brown is one of four Democrats seeking the mayor's office this year. The others are former Macon firefighter Paul Bronson, former Mayor C. Jack Ellis and Mayor Robert Reichert.
They meet in the July 19 primary.