On Tuesday, August 17, the Macon-Bibb Commission approved the recommendation made my Mayor Lester Miller to lower the millage rate to 19.901, a decrease of 0.43 mills for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), which runs from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.

“I’m proud we were able to reduce our millage rate in our first budget,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “As we move forward this year, we will continue to use our budget to improve public safety, fight blight, clean up our streets, support our local businesses, and attract new industries.”

The FY22 Budget was set in June at $174 million and was built to meet the needs of our community after talking with the public, elected officials, partners, and departments. Mayor Miller began molding the plan for the direction of Macon-Bibb County, and ultimately the budget, during his Transition Team process.

The FY22 Budget includes year-long funding for the new payscale that began in January where employees received raises; a dedicated $1 million for neighborhood and community beautification efforts; an additional $1 million for economic and workforce development through the Industrial Authority and Urban Development Authority; an additional $500,000 for the Code Enforcement Department to attack blight more aggressively; $100,000 for pedestrian and traffic safety; fully funding budget requests for mental health services; increasing funding for Planning & Zoning; and more.

“We are focusing our expenses on the things that are most important to the people of our community, and this budget reflects that work,” adds Mayor Miller.

To view the full budget and the process that went into approving it, click here.