Power: A Reporting Series

In Macon-Bibb County, some of the most consequential decisions affecting daily life are made not by elected officials but by small, appointed boards that operate largely outside the public spotlight.

Known in Georgia as local authorities, these quasi-governmental bodies shape housing, water, transportation, health care, land use and economic development. They have the power to issue bonds, set rates, grant tax breaks, acquire property and, in some cases, exercise eminent domain. Their decisions affect residents across the community, even though many of these boards receive little public attention.

“Power” is an ongoing reporting series by The Macon Melody that examines these authority boards in detail. The series explores how they were created, what powers they hold, who serves on them, and how their decisions shape Macon and Middle Georgia.

The goal of the series is to increase transparency around institutions that operate at the intersection of government, money and public life, and to give residents the information they need to understand how local power is exercised.

Stories

The authorities that run Macon-Bibb: A primer

How federal pullback reshaped the Macon Housing Authority

The quiet authority shaping the future of Robins Air Force Base

Bibb development authority broadens role from clean air to community projects

Land bank converts tax-delinquent properties into community assets

It formed to save downtown. Now Urban Development Authority’s reach is much expanded

Once a ‘train wreck,’ Macon’s public transit system is back on track