10 months ago
After an on-going debate between members of the local legislative delegation, The Georgia Sports and Music Halls of Fame will not get the local funding they hoped for. The proposal for a one cent increase to the city's hotel-motel tax failed in the last days of the legislative session. A bill to split the one cent increase between the two halls of fame passed through the house, but did not make it through the senate. Democratic State Senator Robert Brown did not support the legislation. Some state lawmakers fear that without the local funding, the museums may be moved out of Macon. Republican State Senator Cecil Staton, who supported the tax increase, says this was a wasted opportunity to help save the museums, and fears the halls may have to reduce their staffs. Staton says he tried to compromise with Democratic Representative David Lucas and Senator Robert Brown. He suggested a one-year term for the two-way split. A three way split would follow, to include the Douglass Theatre and the Musuem of Arts and Sciences. That proposal was rejected by democrats.
