UPDATE: Macon-Bibb Commissioners approve FY26 budget

UPDATE: (6/17/25)-

On Tuesday, Macon-Bibb County Commission approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.

The county says this year’s budget covering operations from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, represents an increase in spending across budgets, including more funds allocated for public safety, IT, beautification, and recreation.

They say even with the increase, the millage rate is proposed to remain the same and could be lower once the county receives the tax digest.

For more information about the FY26 Budget,

click here

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MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Mayor Lester Miller presented a proposed $219.8 million general fund budget Tuesday for Fiscal Year 2026, increasing spending across public safety, technology, recreation and beautification while keeping the millage rate steady.

According to a news release from Macon-Bibb County, the FY26 budget covers the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and includes additional funding for public safety, information technology, beautification and recreation.

Despite the spending increases, the proposed budget maintains the current millage rate and leaves room for a possible reduction once the county receives its tax digest, the release said.

“We’ve been able to lower our millage rate by more than 50% since 2021 and increase spending thanks to better budgeting, more focused spending, and the voter-approved OLOST,” Mayor Miller said. “I’m proud of our departments for focusing their work on our community’s highest priorities and our budget and finance teams for getting them the funding they need.”

The proposed ordinance also outlines appropriations for additional funds, including $73.7 million in SPLOST 2018 projects, $21.7 million in American Rescue Grant funding, and $36.2 million in other grant-related funds. The total budget across all funds is $460,200,720.

The budget includes notable year-over-year increases in several categories since FY21:

• Salaries & Benefits: Increased from $99,870,902 in FY21 to $123,685,401 in FY26 — a difference of $23,814,499
• Public Safety: Increased from $94,075,033.53 in FY21 to $122,098,205 in FY26 — a difference of $28,023,171.47
• Information Technology: Increased from $5,255,311 in FY21 to $8,682,354 in FY26 — a difference of $3,427,043
• Recreation: Increased from $4,659,721.08 in FY21 to $7,738,280 in FY26 — a difference of $3,078,558.92
• Beautification: Increased from $2,402,174.65 in FY21 to $4,676,173 in FY26 — a difference of $2,273,998.35

A public hearing on the proposed FY26 budget will be held Tuesday, June 3 at 5:30 p.m. in Commission Chambers at City Hall, located at 700 Poplar Street. A final vote on the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17 at 6 p.m.

The full budget proposal and presentation are available at

maconbibb.us/proposedfy26budget


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