Monthly service charges sparked discussion between Macon officials and the Workforce Development program.
Workforce director Kathy Thompson says after several disputes with the city about the cost, she's looking to change directions and partner with Bibb County by December.
She says, "There have been a lot of negative things that have occurred between the city, city council and Workforce Development, and I believe it's time that we start with a new, with Bibb County, and develop a relationship that is productive and one that is not adversarial."
Tuesday night, they brought in the state agency to clarify the relationship between the city and Workforce, who became a non-profit in July.
The goal of the Workforce program is to educate, train, and help people looking for a job, but since they operate under a federal grant, they must have a local government oversee their finances.
The city assumed that role over 20 years ago, and still provides some services after Workforce's non-profit transition.
The Macon-Bibb Workforce Development Office is one of four in the state that isn't paired with programs in surrounding regions. The others are located near Atlanta.
Thompson says she's looked into joining the ten other counties in the Middle Georgia workforce group. Patricia Pridemore, director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Development, says merging would benefit both the program and the people it serves.
Pridemore says, "It provides more money to the local area and also provides a larger board to be able to assist and think regionally about workforce development and how it applies to economic development."
For now, Macon Workforce will continue paying the city $7,800 a month for software and financial services.
The program still owes money for the past two months, but says the state is currently processing the payment and should be in the city's hands by the end of the week.