Macon‑Bibb budget director outlines fiscal year timing, grant work and training plans
May 19, 2026 | Bibb County, Georgia
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Sherita Sims Jones, director of budget and grants in the Budget and Strategic Planning Department for Macon‑Bibb County, described the county's fiscal and grant calendar and outlined how her office supports departments during the annual budget cycle.
“Our fiscal year runs July 1st to June 30th,” Sims Jones said, explaining that most new grants also start July 1 and that grant reporting, financial audits and site visits follow in the fall.
Sims Jones told hosts the county applies for about 30 grants a year on average and gave examples of how grant funding supports county functions: personnel in solicitor and district attorney offices, juvenile court programs that place therapists in homes, equipment for emergency management and sheriff's operations, and airport projects such as airline service and runway work.
She described the internal process: staff and departments bring solicitation documents to the budget office for review; the county sometimes serves on grant review committees and emphasizes strict compliance with application requirements. “All the grant agency wants to know is can you do exactly what we ask you to do when we ask you to do it,” she said.
On internal capacity‑building, Sims Jones said her office will offer budget monitoring training to department staff so department leaders better understand budget requests and constraints. She also noted her involvement with the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), which she said helps the county follow best practices.
About the public schedule, Sims Jones said department review meetings are nearly complete and the formal presentation to the commission is expected in May; the podcast did not provide a specific presentation date. The hosts said budget materials would be posted at makingbib.us under an FY2027 folder when available.
The episode closed with hosts thanking Sims Jones and reminding listeners they can review published budget documents once the county posts them online.
“Our fiscal year runs July 1st to June 30th,” Sims Jones said, explaining that most new grants also start July 1 and that grant reporting, financial audits and site visits follow in the fall.
Sims Jones told hosts the county applies for about 30 grants a year on average and gave examples of how grant funding supports county functions: personnel in solicitor and district attorney offices, juvenile court programs that place therapists in homes, equipment for emergency management and sheriff's operations, and airport projects such as airline service and runway work.
She described the internal process: staff and departments bring solicitation documents to the budget office for review; the county sometimes serves on grant review committees and emphasizes strict compliance with application requirements. “All the grant agency wants to know is can you do exactly what we ask you to do when we ask you to do it,” she said.
On internal capacity‑building, Sims Jones said her office will offer budget monitoring training to department staff so department leaders better understand budget requests and constraints. She also noted her involvement with the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), which she said helps the county follow best practices.
About the public schedule, Sims Jones said department review meetings are nearly complete and the formal presentation to the commission is expected in May; the podcast did not provide a specific presentation date. The hosts said budget materials would be posted at makingbib.us under an FY2027 folder when available.
The episode closed with hosts thanking Sims Jones and reminding listeners they can review published budget documents once the county posts them online.
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