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Bibb commissioners vote to accept balanced budget

The Bibb commissioners voted to accept a balanced budget that cut funding to outside agencies

Mike Odom and others who spoke at the full commission meeting were unhappy with the millage rate increase, but that wasn't on the table.

“I can promise every citizen listing to this we will be right back here next year with them trying to get into our pockets,” said Odom.

Commissioners voted to approve of outside agency funding that matched the 3 mill increase they had already approved.

Willie Frazier wasn't happy with the cuts to outside agency funding like the health department, Macon Transit Authority, and Georgia DFCS.

“From what I understand, there were quite a lot of things that were cut,” said Frazier.

6 commissioners -- Bert Bivins Elaine Lucas, Virgil Watkins, Al Tillman, and Larry Schlesinger -- voted to approve of that plan.

“It's our fault and we have to correct some of the wrong that we've done,” said Tillman.

Tillman says it's been hard to balance those two needs in the community, but it's his duty to do so, and he's hoping for a penny tax solution called an OLOST and an additional ordinance.

“We have an ordinance coming down to ask we don’t have a millage rate increase for the next 3 years,” said Tillman.

Mallory Jones voted against the cuts and the millage rate and says, next year, they need a pension contribution plan and for agencies to start looking elsewhere for funding.

“What I hope is that these outside agencies will set up a foundation to start raising money now so we don’t have to do this again,” said Jones.

In a 6-3 vote Tuesday night, Bibb commissioners voted to restore funding to outside agencies.

Commissioners Joe Allen, Mallory Jones, and Valerie Wynn voted no, while Scotty Shepherd voted yes.

After adopting a 3-mill increase last week, they needed to determine how much funding could return to outside agencies and had to make some major cuts.

RELATED: Bibb commissioners increase taxes by 3 mills

The largest chunks came to the Georgia Department of Family and Children's Services. They asked for $807,500 but are slated to receive a little more than half of that -- $405,626.

Two agencies are tied for the second largest cuts. The Museum of Arts and Sciences and the Tubman Museum.

They each asked for $230,000. They will likely only get $180,000.

RELATED: Bibb commissioners decide cuts to outside agencies

But there are 24 other outside agencies. Here are the ones facing cuts:

The Macon Bibb Health Department asked for $680,000, but is likely to receive $580,000.

RiverEdge Behavioral Health asked for $403,800, but could receive $350,000.

Macon Transit Authority asked for $2,316,500, but could get receive $2,016,500.

Economic Opportunity Council asked for $98,000, but will take $85,000.

Douglass Theater asked for $100,000, to get $85,000.

Macon Arts alliance asked for $40,000, but could get $35,000.

The Sports Hall of Fame asked for $100,000, but receiving $85,000.

Planning and Zoning asked for $900,000, could take $810,000.

The Urban Development Authority asked for $108,000, to receive $90,000.

Industrial Authority asked for $528,000 dollars, to receive $450,000.

The Land Bank Authority asked for $192,000, but could get $170,000.

Keep Macon Bibb Beautiful asked for $110,000, but could receive $90,000.

The additional agencies are slated to receive the full amount of funding they asked for.

Here is how the commissioners voted:

Valerie Wynn - No

Larry Schlesinger - Yes

Mallory Jones ​​​​​​- No

Bert Bivins - Yes

Elaine Lucas - Yes

Scotty Shepherd - Yes

Joe Allen - No

Virgil Watkins - Yes

Al Tillman - Yes

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