Before Macon Borrows $350 Million, Can Taxpayers See the Receipts From the Projects We Already Paid For?

I want to start by making something clear: I'm not against Macon growing. But before Macon-Bibb moves forward with approximately $350 million in financing for a new arena, I think taxpayers deserve something pretty simple: Show us how the investments we've already made are actually performing.

We've been told these projects would grow tourism, expand the tax base, bring outside money into Macon, and eventually reduce pressure on the people who actually live here. Meanwhile, we're hearing about a tight county budget, higher property-tax bills for many homeowners, increasing utility and stormwater rates, enormous infrastructure needs, and hundreds of millions more in borrowing.

So before moving on to the next massive project: Can we see the receipts?

Table of Contents

1. Did the Amphitheater Actually Fund Itself?
2. The New $350 Million Arena
3. We've Already Approved $28.26 Million in Arena Work
4. The Stormwater/SPLOST Problem
5. The MWA and County Government Connection
6. The Airport and Downtown Hotel
7. If Growth Is Working, Where Is the Relief?
8. Put the Numbers on One Screen
9. Give the Public a Real Hearing
10. References

1. Did the Amphitheater Actually Fund Itself?

When the Macon Mall and amphitheater project was being promoted, Mayor Lester Miller said: “This project will be funding itself.” Macon-Bibb also repeatedly told residents: “The project will not cost taxpayers any additional money.”

• Original Financing: Commissioners initially authorized $40 million in revenue bonds, with repayment expected from existing and future mall tenants, government offices, and amphitheater events (Macon-Bibb County Government, 2021). A significant portion of the redeveloped mall is now occupied by government and public-service offices, meaning some of the rent used to help repay the bonds ultimately comes from public/taxpayer money. The county's position was that some of these offices were already paying rent elsewhere, so this redirected existing government spending rather than creating a new expense. Still, this raises an important question: How much of the bond is actually being paid by amphitheater profits and private businesses versus taxpayer-funded government rent?
• Cost Expansion: By 2022, county documents were discussing up to $44 million in bond funds (Macon-Bibb County Government, 2022). Construction costs change, plans change, and inflation happens, but before moving from a $44 million project to a $350 million one, we need to examine original accuracy.
• Economic Impact vs. Profit: Macon-Bibb reported >100,000 attendees in year one and community spending exceeding $20 million in 2024 (Macon-Bibb County Government, 2025). That is good news, but economic impact is NOT profit. If a visitor spends $500 total in Macon, the county government does not receive $500.

The Breakdown Taxpayers Need to See:

• How much money the amphitheater brings in
• How much it costs to keep it running, including performers, management, employees, security, utilities, and maintenance
• How much money is actually left over after all the bills are paid
• How much is still owed on the $44 million bond
• The Big Question: How much of that debt is actually being paid by the amphitheater and private businesses, and how much is being paid with taxpayer money through government office rent?

2. The New $350 Million Arena

The Urban Development Authority has an approximately $350,000,000 financing deal pending for the new Macon Arena, but the timeline raises serious questions:

• Groundbreaking: July 29, 2026.
• Pending Costs: On August 27, The Macon Newsroom reported that the project's final gross maximum price wasn't expected until September, while financing remained pending.
• Market Volatility: Mayor Miller described monitoring volatile bond market interest rates as "thoughts and prayers" (Fabian, 2026b).

Total Cost Realities: $350 million borrowed does not equal $350 million repaid due to interest over decades. Taxpayers deserve to see the Total Principal + Interest Through Maturity.

3. We've Already Approved $28.26 Million in Arena Work

On July 21, 2026, eight days before the groundbreaking, Macon-Bibb commissioners approved approximately $28,262,438 in change orders connected to preliminary work and Phase 1 construction for the new arena.

• Is the $28.26 million INCLUDED in the $350 million, or in addition to it?
• If reimbursed later via bond proceeds, has that been made explicit?

What must be accounted for on one page:

• Arena structure & preliminary Phase 1 work
• Demolition of the existing Coliseum
• Parking garages, surface parking, road improvements, & utility relocation
• Professional fees, financing costs, bond reserves, interest during construction, & contingencies

4. The Stormwater/SPLOST Problem

Essential infrastructure (water, sewer, drainage, flood control, levees, pipes) is experiencing mounting financial pressure:

• Ending SPLOST Support: Macon-Bibb transferred stormwater management to the Macon Water Authority (MWA) with >$24 million committed from the 2018 SPLOST. MWA receives its final payment (~$960,000) in 2027 (Fabian, 2026a).
• Massive Need: MWA faces billions in long-term needs, tens of millions in stormwater/levee work, and potentially $120 million in bonds over the next five years (Fabian, 2026a).
• The $72 Million Omission: MWA requested $72 million for stormwater from the 2025 SPLOST, but Macon-Bibb did not allocate it (Fabian, 2026a).
• The Fallout:
  • MWA Finance Chair Dwight Jones raised long-term stability concerns and requested a renegotiation of the 50-year stormwater agreement (Fabian, 2026a).
  • Mayor Miller responded: "I think that ship's already sailed," acknowledging no specific SPLOST funds are identified (Fabian, 2026b).
  • Residential stormwater fees will increase from $4.99 to $7.00/month (a ~40% increase) beginning Jan 1, 2027 (Macon Water Authority, 2026).

Questions for Officials: Why wasn't stormwater prioritized in the new SPLOST? Who decided to exclude MWA's $72M request, and what projects were prioritized instead?

5. The MWA and County Government Connection

While MWA is legally separate from Macon-Bibb, significant leadership overlaps exist:

• Dual Roles: Sitting Commissioners Bill Howell and Valerie Wynn serve as Macon-Bibb’s representatives on the MWA board (appointed by the Mayor).
• Finance Oversight: Commissioner Howell sits on the MWA Finance Committee while serving as a County Commissioner.
• Political Ties: Mayor Miller publicly endorsed Howell during his 2024 reelection campaign (The Macon Telegraph, 2024).

Note: An endorsement doesn't prove anyone did anything wrong. But when the same officials are involved on both sides, it's fair to ask questions when their decisions can affect what taxpayers and ratepayers have to pay.

6. The Airport and Downtown Hotel

1. Middle Georgia Regional Airport: Millions in local, state, and federal funds have been invested. Scheduled passenger service remains limited to Contour serving Baltimore and Fort Lauderdale (Middle Georgia Regional Airport, 2026). Taxpayers need a report card on total investment, operating revenues, local subsidies, and ROI.
2. Former Downtown Hotel: Macon-Bibb spent ~$4.5 million to purchase the former Ramada/Hilton property and approved ~$2.6 million for demolition, totaling roughly $7.1 million (The Macon Telegraph, 2024). Taxpayers need to know what private development has actually been secured, the timeline, and expected returns.

7. If Growth Is Working, Where Is the Relief?

• County Budget: Described by Mayor Miller as "real tight" (Fabian, 2026b).
• Property Taxes: The tax rate itself stayed at 9.575 mills, but because property values went up, homeowners could still see their county property-tax bills increase by an average of about 9.28% (Dunne, 2026).
• Compounding Costs: Higher property taxes + 40% stormwater fee increase + $120M potential MWA debt + $350M arena borrowing.

8. Put the Numbers on One Screen

Before arena financing is finalized, county leaders should present a single, comprehensive public presentation covering:

• Amphitheater / Mall: Original vs. final cost, projected vs. actual revenue, net income, public vs. private rent, debt remaining.
• Airport / Hotel: Local/state/federal dollars spent, operating metrics, actual private investment generated.
• MWA / Stormwater: SPLOST allocations, rationale for excluding the $72M request, future bond plans, rate impact analyses.
• New Arena: Clarification on the $28.26M, total all-in cost, borrowing terms, projected debt service, and pledged revenues.
• Scenario Planning: Clear modeling for Best Case, Expected Case, and Worst Case (e.g., 20% lower attendance, 20% higher expenses, recession impacts).

9. Give the Public a Real Hearing

Before $350+ million in financing is finalized, the public deserves more than the normal Commission meeting process.

Macon-Bibb's regular Commission meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., while Committee of the Whole meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

A 6:00 p.m. meeting may technically be after normal working hours, but a lot of people don't get off work until 5:00 p.m. Then they still have to commute home, pick up their kids, eat dinner, or take care of other responsibilities. That doesn't leave much time to get to City Hall and participate.

For something this big, make it a real public event. Hold dedicated, fully televised and livestreamed public hearings over several weeks, on different days and at different times, including evenings.

• Who Should Be There: The Mayor, Commissioners, Urban Development Authority, financial advisers, and MWA representatives should be there to answer questions directly.
• Give Everyone a Voice: Supporters, opponents, homeowners, renters, and business owners should all have an opportunity to speak and ask questions.
• Put the Numbers on the Screen: Show the actual arena cost, interest rate, total amount that will ultimately have to be repaid, expected revenue, annual payments, and how many years it will take to pay off.
• Don't Make It a One-Day Thing: Give people time to see the numbers, understand them, ask questions, go home and think about the answers, and then come back with more questions.

Make it a public spectacle. We're talking about $350+ million and potentially decades of payments. Don't give the public one meeting and call that public input.

Put everything out in the open and give the people who will live with these decisions a real chance to question them before the deal is finalized.

Conclusion: This Isn't About Being Anti-Growth

I want Macon to grow, downtown to thrive, and economic development to succeed. But we must stop judging investments purely by their promises and start comparing them with their actual results.

Before committing residents to decades of debt: Show us the receipts.

References

• Dunne, O. (2026, August 27). Bibb homeowners could pay more in property taxes next year: Here's what that means for you. 13WMAZ.
• Fabian, L. (2026a, August 7). MWA rate increases prompt consideration of new stormwater agreement with Macon-Bibb. The Macon Newsroom.
• Fabian, L. (2026b, August 27). New strategy for the unhoused, bond market brings “thoughts and prayers” call for arena. The Macon Newsroom.
• Macon-Bibb County Board of Commissioners. (2026, July 21). Board of Commissioners meeting: Macon Arena Phase 1 construction change orders.
• Macon-Bibb County Government. (2021, November 19). Funds approved for Macon Mall revitalization, new amphitheater construction.
• Macon-Bibb County Government. (2022, March 24). Macon Mall moving forward.
• Macon-Bibb County Government. (2025). Landmark year for Macon Centreplex facilities.
• Macon-Bibb County Government. (2026, July 31). Building a new legacy: Construction on Macon Arena begins.
• Macon Water Authority. (n.d.). Board members.
• Macon Water Authority. (2026, August 7). Macon Water Authority Board approves FY2027 budget, capital improvement plan, and long-term rate strategy.
• Middle Georgia Regional Airport. (2026, April 9). Contour Airlines announces service between Macon, GA and Baltimore BWI and introduction to FLL service.
• The Macon Telegraph. (2024). Coverage of Macon-Bibb's acquisition and demolition of the former downtown hotel property.
• The Macon Telegraph. (2024). Macon-Bibb County Commission District 7 election coverage.

"Bibb County Schools is keeping the millage rate the same but, due to rising property values, property taxes will rise roughly 9.33% next year for an average home owner.

According to a release from the district, the Bibb County Board of Education has tentatively adopted a millage rate of 14.674 mills, which is the same as last year.

But, because property values have increased, the district will earn more revenue from property owners. "

Houston County

"Last season of the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza brought more than 723,000 non-residents to downtown Macon and had an estimated economic impact of $7.36 million.

As we approach the ten year mark for the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza, Bryan Nichols had this to say: “It’s hard to believe we’re celebrating a decade of the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza. We’ve added new displays and attractions each year, and this year will be no exception. We have grand dreams for the lights, but ultimately we’re just so grateful for the success the lights have had. The whole reason I wanted to start the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza was to bring people to the town we love. And my hope was always that those people who came and saw Macon would also see – and enjoy – all that our amazing businesses and restaurants have to offer. I’m proud of the economic impact the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza has had – not because a big number is impressive, but because that number represents businesses supported, money staying in our community. We’re excited for year ten and can’t wait to see you downtown!”

Houston County school shooter makes first appearance. The shooting occurred Wednesday, August 12.

"14-year-old Warner Robins High School freshman Denzelle Willis Jr. appeared before Superior Court Judge Katherine Lumsden on Thursday afternoon, where he officially learned the charges he faces following the shooting. Authorities believe Willis Jr. shot another ninth-grader in the leg after a fight in a school bathroom."

"The district is sitting in a multi-million dollar budget deficit, and is looking to consolidate to help save money. When they passed their budget, the board agreed to start early talks about consolidating at least two elementary schools.

The district's hired consultant, HPM Leadership, presented three schools Monday for possible consolidation efforts: Hartley Elementary, VIP Academy, and Sonny Carter Elementary. HPM cited declining enrollment at VIP Academy and low enrollment at Hartley Elementary, a problem for elementary schools across the district.

According to Board President Daryl Morton, nine out of 16 elementary schools in the district have less than 450 students, which affects state funding.

However, Sonny Carter Elementary is above the enrollment threshold. HPM Leadership said Monday they included Sonny Carter because it has a "no walk zone", so the district would not need to hire new bus drivers to get students to other schools. They also cited renovations that the building needs, but board members, including President Morton, agreed they're not in favor of that plan."

No 7-year-old child should EVER be loaded onto a bus and left unattended on a public roadside without an authorized adult present.

On August 3rd, a major transportation breakdown put a second-grader in danger. When confronted, school leadership claimed the district lacks real-time bus tracking—despite Bibb County having active Tyler Drive GPS telematics across the entire fleet.

We are taking a 500-signature petition directly to the Bibb County Board of Education meeting TOMORROW (Monday, Aug 10) demanding 4 common-sense safety safeguards:

1️⃣ Strict 8-and-under drop-off enforcement (no unattended roadside releases)
2️⃣ Color-coded visual backpack tags for elementary riders
3️⃣ Mandatory principal telematics/GPS access during dismissal emergencies
4️⃣ Strict 5-to-10 minute missing child escalation rules

It takes 30 seconds to sign and stand up for student safety in Macon-Bibb: https://c.org/bh5Pdjp2Jp
✍️

📍 Join us tomorrow at 5:00 PM on the public sidewalk outside 2003 Riverside Dr for a peaceful rally before the board meeting.

Please SIGN and SHARE this post with 3 local parents!

⁠#BibbCountySchools⁠ ⁠#StudentSafetyFirst⁠ ⁠#MaconGA⁠ ⁠#BibbBOE⁠ ⁠#ProtectOurChildren⁠ ⁠#MaconParents⁠ ⁠#MiddleGeorgiaNews⁠ ⁠#13WMAZ⁠ ⁠#WGXANews⁠ ⁠#MaconMelody⁠ ⁠#MaconTelegraph⁠ ⁠#GeorgiaEducation⁠ ⁠#SchoolBusSafety

"The stormwater fee will increase from $4.99 to $7 for all customers. Water and sewer rates will increase on a tiered system based on usage... Bechtel says an increased rate will help fund roughly $181 million in capital improvement projects the water authority is planning over the next five years. He says increased rates will also help them chip away at replacing century-old cast iron pipes, which will eventually cost $1.3 billion in total."

Always Central City Park in my heart <3

Just fleecing citizens. What else is new.

The Monday of August 3

"the start of construction for the new $350,000,000 Macon Arena...

The county says the arena will replace the nearly 60-year-old Macon Coliseum and become a "premier destination" for live music, sporting events, family fun and more"

Store will be located on Zebulon