On Monday, March 19, Mayor Pro Tem Al Tillman and Commissioners Lucas, Schlesinger, and Watkins, along with SPLOST Advisory Committee Chair Theron Ussery, held a press conference to call on State Legislators to come together and pass a bill that would allow citizens to vote in November on an Other Local Option Sales Tax (OLOST).

This additional penny tax would have gone toward the operations of Macon-Bibb County government (as opposed to the SPLOST, which can only go toward capital projects), and would have led to a rollback of property taxes. It’s estimated the OLOST would raise about $28 million per year, and would have been a way to capitalize on the thousands of people that drive into and through Macon-Bibb County every day. Studies have shown that a strong majority of the penny tax is paid by people that do not live in Macon-Bibb.

To see the complete video, click here.