On Monday, February 9, the SPLOST Advisory Committee met to hear an update on current and future projects funded by the voter-approved penny sales tax. An update was provided on specific projects – such as the Animal Welfare Center, recreation center upgrades, the Second Street Corridor, and fire stations – by SPLOST Project Manager Clay Murphey. For the recreation centers, Murphey talked about the need to have meetings with staff and the community to determine what is needed and wanted in those area. County Manager Dale Walker also discussed the most recent financial statements; though collections are still under projections about 5%, Macon-Bibb is closely monitoring it to make sure spending matches revenue. To view the reports, click on the links below.

“We’re pleased with the progress of projects which are very important to the public, including the Animal Welfare Center, new fire stations, and the Senior Center,” says Committee Member Monica Smith, who chaired Monday’s meeting. “Also, it’s great news for our neighborhoods that improvements at the recreation centers will be moving forward, and we hope people take advantage of the community meetings to help Macon-Bibb in the planning process.”

To help keep the public updated on the progress of projects, it releases the financial statements of spending each month. In December, it launched a new interactive online map to show how funds are being spent on each of projects. The map can be accessed by clicking here, and a new website with all SPLOST-related information is being created that will include the financial statement, announcements, and news.

The projects have been divided into five focus: Economic Development, Public Safety, Recreation & Cultural Arts, Infrastructure, and Debt Retirement. On the map, you can view the projects by these focus areas or as a county-wide program, as well as read short descriptions of each project. By clicking on an individual project in the list or on the map, you will be able to view the project’s budget, amended budget, what was spent in prior years, what is budgeted for the current year, and how much remains to be spent.

SPLOST Project Update (February 2015)

SPLOST Financial Statement (January 31, 2015)