Chair says commission will keep millage rate steady; final vote set for Sept. 9

The Chair of the Macon Bibb County Commission opened a public hearing on the millage rate and said the commission will keep the current rate in place while it awaits the tax digest, with a final vote tentatively scheduled for Sept. 9 at 9 a.m.

"We have not raised and do not intend to raise, the millage rate," the Chair said during the presentation, adding that the commission held multiple public hearings before adopting a rate. The Chair said the commission is required to hold hearings when keeping the millage rate the same and that the public will be notified of the exact date for the additional hearing and special meeting to adopt the rate.

The presentation included contextual figures the Chair used to justify the decision to hold the rate: a cited current planning figure of 9.575 for the millage rate, and an explanation that any change in homeowners' bills is more often driven by property-value changes set by the tax assessor than by adjustments to the millage rate. The Chair noted the commission is waiting on the tax digest before taking a final vote.

The hearing concluded after one public commenter spoke in support of the proposed plan. The Chair closed the public hearing and reiterated that the commission will not vote on the millage rate that night and expects to consider adoption at the Sept. 9 special meeting.