On Tuesday, June 3, the Commission unanimously approved allocating $96,595 from the school zone camera funds to go towards the Academy for Classical Education (ACE) to purchase panic alarms, mapping software, and campus perimeter fencing.
“This is a school safety law enforcement initiative, and I appreciate the fact that the commission has brought for a vote,” said Will Ferrel, ACE Chief of Security. “I appreciate that you’re going to try to help us make it a safer campus. This is an effective device, along with the perimeter fence that we need to complete. I see that this speed zone money is being used for what it is supposed to be used for.”
In April, Mayor Lester Miller recommended spending $3 million from revenue from the school public safety cameras to help recruit and retain public safety employees and improve pedestrian infrastructure. $2 million of that funding was used to raise the salary for non-certified public safety employees, both current employees and new hires. $1 million of went to the Bibb County School District to recruit and retain School Resource Officers.
Since revenue began collected from people speeding more than 10mph over the speed limit near schools, Macon-Bibb has collected more than $8.9 million. Of that, $8,292,000 has been spent or allocated to a variety of public safety projects, including:
- Public safety employee salary increases;
- School Resource Officer & Crossing Guard salaries;
- Crosswalk installation and improvements;
- Flock, Verkada, and Adapt to Solve Cameras to help the Sheriff’s Office solve crimes;
- Knox boxes to allow deputies and firefighters access to schools in an emergency;
- School zone flashing lights as additional warning system;
- Public safety vehicles; and
- Other equipment.