Bibb commissioners start cutting into projected $19 million deficit | Politics | Macon.com

Facing a mountainous projected deficit of about $19 million, Bibb County commissioners Monday started the long climb to reach a balanced fiscal 2014 budget with the first day of budget hearings.

Commissioners have said they don’t want a tax increase and that cutting spending is their main option to balance the budget. The $19 million figure comes from the difference between projected tax revenues and department spending requests.

Now commissioners must make cuts or find revenues in the form of additional taxes or money from the reserve fund to bridge the gap.

Monday, on the first day of budget hearings, commissioners heard from several departments including the sheriff’s office, Animal Welfare, the District Attorney’s Office, the county’s courts and engineering department. Before each presentation, Bibb County Commissioner Lonzy Edwards — chairman of the county’s Finance Committee — reminded department heads of the projected deficit, noting “every little bit helps.”

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