Macon-Bibb Commission OKs retention bonus for county workers. Here’s how much

All regular Macon-Bibb County workers hired before July 1 will be getting a one-time “retention bonus” with $4.1 million in remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds.

After about 15 minutes in executive session, Macon-Bibb County Commissioners unanimously supported and co-sponsored the bonuses, which will not apply to elected officials.

Full-time workers will receive $2,500 and part-timers will get $1,000.

The commission on Tuesday night also approved $500,000 in ARPA money to assist the Macon Volunteer Clinic with its pending move and expansion after 20 years of meeting the health needs of the uninsured who are living at or less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Since the poverty level for a single person is $13,590, clinic eligibility requires an income of $27,180 or less. A family of four would have to make $55,500 or less, which is twice the poverty level of $27,750, to be eligible to receive services at the clinic.

Clinic Executive Director Nancy White told commissioners she is confident they will be supported by private donations and foundation contributions to fund the move from their existing location in Ingleside Village.

White said it was premature to announce the new location and expected benefactors, although Commissioner Elaine Lucas said that White should be more forthcoming since she was seeking half a million in taxpayer funds.

In other action:

▪ The Commission accepted $5.3 million from the Georgia Department of Transportation with a million dollars in local match from the county to reconstruct the runway at the Macon Downtown Airport, which used to be known as Herbert Smart Airport.

The county approved a nearly $5.8 million contract with Reeves Construction to rebuilt the runway, which the county’s Aviation Director Doug Faour said is necessary to bring the airport into compliance with FAA guidelines. They also agreed to hire Goodwin Mills Cawood, or GMC, to provide consulting services for the runway project.

▪ Commissioners agreed to lease airplane storage space at Middle Georgia Regional Airport to Embraer for $9,000 per month and will be seeking grant funding to spruce up Ga. 247 near Avondale Mill Road near the airport.

▪ The county also took care of some year-end accounting with a supplemental budget appropriation of $50 million to cover some outstanding purchase orders, and balanced the general fund budget with more than $1.6 million in adjustments.

Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities and can be reached at fabian_lj@mercer.edu