The Georgia House approved a bill allowing citizens of Macon to vote whether to merge the city and Bibb County governments. The bill now heads to Governor Nathan Deal for his signature.

Every member of the Bibb County legislative delegation voted yes on the bill. House speaker David Ralston says the bi-partisan effort sets a great example for other state lawmakers.

Charles Richardson is the Editorial Page Editor at the Telegraph in Macon. He says past efforts failed because the Bibb Legislative delegation could never agree on legislation. But, that changed with the last election.

“The person that replaced Robert Brown in the Senate, Miriam Paris, and the person that replaced David Lucas in the house, James Beverly, is a different, let’s just say a different mix that isn’t as toxic as the one before.”

The vote takes place in July. Consolidation efforts in Macon date back to 1919.

Tags: Macon, Bibb County, Representative Allen Peake, consolidation, HB 1171, Charles Richardson