The Macon City Council unanimously set the 2026 city tax levy at .8055 per $100 of assessed valuation and passed an ordinance calling an election on up to $80 million in combined waterworks and sewerage system revenue bonds at a special meeting Aug. 24.
The levy is the maximum ceiling set by the state auditor and a .0085 increase from the prior year, according to minutes of the special meeting. On $100,000 of assessed valuation, the rate amounts to $805.50, which is $8.50 more than under last year's rate of .7970.
A public hearing on the levy opened at 6:30 p.m. and closed at 6:32 p.m. with no public comments, the minutes say.
Councilman Jerry Thompson moved the first reading of the levy ordinance. Councilwoman Theresa Ulrich seconded. The roll call was 7-0: Steve Olinger, Ulrich, Thompson, Cheryl Blaise, Chris Walk, Teresa Thrasher, and Brent Bernhardt. Blaise moved the second reading, Thrasher seconded, and the vote was again 7-0.
Council then took up the bond-election ordinance. Discussion concerned authorization of up to $80 million in revenue bonds to fund water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant improvements, according to the minutes.
Representatives of Macon Municipal Utilities reiterated that the $80 million is a maximum issuance authorization based on projected future costs and does not mean the entire amount would be borrowed or spent. The council would retain approval authority over actual bond issues in phases for future engineering, construction contracts, and project expenditures, the minutes say.
A significant portion of the discussion concerned ordinance language referring to a "combined waterworks and sewerage system," because the city's water and wastewater systems are currently separate. Legal counsel advised that the city could formally combine the systems by ordinance before the election or pursue separate bond ordinances and ballot questions, according to the minutes.
Financing through the State Revolving Fund, potential grant funding, and customer rate impacts were also discussed. MMU advised that the proposed 30-year SRF financing is expected to carry a substantially lower interest rate than conventional market financing and that grant opportunities could be pursued after voter authorization. The minutes note the city is on the current Missouri Department of Natural Resources fundable list and that delaying the project could require the city to reapply and compete for limited future funds.
Council also discussed potential effects on major customers, including the Macon County Public Water Supply District and ConAgra. MMU reported discussions with ConAgra about the proposed improvements and opportunities to address the company's wastewater pretreatment needs in future wastewater planning. Concerns were raised about long-term wholesale water contracts and the effect that changes in large-customer usage could have on other ratepayers, according to the minutes.
Public comments addressed the need for water and wastewater improvements, regulatory requirements for the wastewater system, infrastructure capacity for future economic development, and public access to city ordinances and codes.
Councilman Olinger moved the first reading of the bond-election ordinance. Ulrich seconded. The roll call was 7-0. Blaise moved the second reading, Thompson seconded, and the vote was again 7-0. Council members emphasized that approval of the ordinance allows the question to be presented to Macon voters, who will decide whether to authorize the bond issue, the minutes say.
Mayor James T. Holman called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at 106 W. Bourke St. All seven council members were present. After the bond votes, the council went into closed session on personnel under Section 610.021(3), RSMo, from 7:36 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. No closed-meeting action was reportable. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.