A Penny More?

The voters of Bibb County will have to decide Tuesday if they want to impose a penny tax on purchases made in the county. The goal is to raise $87,125,000 to pay for several projects throughout the county, which includes the city of Macon. I haven't been able to find the exact wording of the ballot online-- but I am familiar with it.

This is my estimation... NOT THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS.

If passed the SPLOST will last a maximum of 3.5 years, not raising more than $87,125,000.
According to the ballot, the special tax will be used to pay for the retirement of indebtedness and the acquisition of capital outlay projects within the county. The money received from the SPLOST will be divided between the city and county governments. The county will receive the funds from the state and distribute them accordingly. The city will receive 35 percent of the money taken in from the SPLOST, while county will retain 65 percent. Here's the Breakdown:

Total: $87,125,000
City: $30,493,750
County: $56,631,250

The city of Macon will be accountable for $30,493,750 or 35 percent for the following projects...
The city will pay off revenue bonds for the Macon Coliseum and the Macon Centreplex.
The city will pay for equipment and other property leased by the city of Macon from the Georgia Municipal Association.
The city will retire general obligation debt from the General Obligation Bond Series 1976.
The city will pay for improvements to the stormwater management system.

Bibb County will be accountable for $56,631,250 or 65 percent for the following projects...
The county will retire general obligation bond indebtedness from the Bibb County General Obligation School Refunding Bond, Series 2003.
The county will pay for equipment leased through the Georgia Municipal Association.
The county will pay for buses and vans currently leased by the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority.
The county will pay for the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center and for improvements to the facility through the prepayment of leases intergovernmentaltal contract obligations between the county and the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority which will allow for tpaymentnet or redemption of outstanding revenue bonds of the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority.

When SPLOSTs come up or talk of raising the sales tax discussions about it being a regressive tax intrigue me. Who will pay the most and who will be hit hardest are two questions that both cause me to sit on the fence about the issue. Those who spend more will pay more, but those who will be hit hardest are those whose percentage of income will take a bigger hit. The fairness in both situations can be argued.

Charles Bishop, the county commission chairman for Bibb County, insists that property owners can benefit from passing the SPLOST because they will avoid a property tax increase and allow people from who live in or visit from surrounding areas to share the burden in paying off debt for the county. Anti-SPLOST advocates argue that the county should shave more from the budget to pay off the debt and insist that cuts can be made. Macon Mayor C. Jack Ellis takes an opposing view from most of the city council saying that he supports an expected special sales tax for education that will likely be put before voters in the fall. So who is right in all of this?

Bishop?: Get help from outside the county to help pay our bills.
Anti-SPLOST People?: Don't pass a SPLOST; save that penny. Cut more from the budget to pay off debt.
Ellis?: Save that penny for schools... stop giving your money to the county to build a jail.

Vote is June 21.