Inside City Hall: What’s in your wallet, Atlanta City Hall?
Gather around, Atlanta, budget season is upon us at City Hall.
We told you last week that Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens wants to increase pay for all city employees in his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2023, which starts July 1. At $743 million, it’s the largest general fund budget in the city’s history.
The mayor said in a statement that his first-ever proposed budget would broaden investments in infrastructure, aging parks, public safety facilities, youth engagement programs, and services for residents. The proposed budget is also balanced and would increase the city’s reserves without selling off any city assets, according to the mayor’s office.
You can see the full proposed budget on the city’s website.
Various city departments and unions began presentations to the Atlanta City Council last week to explain the administration’s priorities.
Officials say the budget will be boosted by increases in property and sales tax revenue, and Chief Financial Officer Mohamed Balla said at the first budget briefing Thursday that the economy is climbing out of the pandemic’s impact.
The Atlanta region lost 13.6% of its jobs due to the coronavirus, but 85% of those jobs have been recovered, Balla said. He also assured Councilman Alex Wan that the city will be insulated should a global recession occur next year.
Last Friday, the councilmembers received presentations from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, and the International Association of Fire Fighters.
The unions advocated for pay raises comparable to other municipalities nationwide. Some of the unions also asked the city to review rules in place by current managers.
“The bigger picture is we need to still look at restructuring the current leadership here,” said Gina Pagnotta Murphy, president of the Professional Association of City Employees.
The council will receive presentations from more than 20 other city departments over the next several weeks — as well as public hearings from residents slated for June 7 and 15 — prior to the full council’s adoption of the budget scheduled for June 21.
The councilmembers are convening in their public committees this week, so the next budget hearings will begin May 17, with the Atlanta Police Department and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.
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Mayor Dickens is also making his mark in the affordable housing landscape after he replaced a significant majority of the Atlanta Housing Authority’s board members last week.
Dickens tapped new board members Duriya Farooqui, Doug Hooker, Sarah Kirsch and Larry Stewart; their appointments are subject to approval by the Atlanta City Council. The mayor accepted the resignations of AHA Board Chair Dr. Christopher R. Edwards; Vice Chair Kirk Rich; along with commissioners Pat D. Dixon, Jr. and Robert Highsmith, Jr.
The remaining three commissioners — Rosalind Elliott, Sheila Harris and Tené Traylor — will continue in their positions.
Atlanta City Councilman Jason Dozier, the chair of the community development committee, said he hopes AHA will focus on building communities that promote active forms of transportation, such as walking and cycling, over personal car use.
”It does signal that change is afoot,” Dozier told us.
Council is expected to vote on ratification of the new board members May 16. We will also keep an eye on AHA’s May 25 meeting, which is when the new board will likely elect its next chair.
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We recently took a dive into the mayor’s new “nightlife division” within his office, and its focus on issues with the city’s bars and clubs. Dickens is also backing proposed changes to the local law to speed up closures of unruly entertainment venues with a history of crime.
If you have any feedback, story ideas, tips or insider info related on City Hall, email us at wilborn.nobles@ajc.com and jdapelouto@ajc.com. We’re also on Twitter, @jdcapelouto and @WilNobles.
Wilborn P. Nobles III covers the Atlanta mayor's policies for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Wil (not "Willie" or "William") previously covered Baltimore County government at The Baltimore Sun, but he never finished "The Wire." He also covered education for the Times-Picayune in his hometown of New Orleans, so he tries to avoid discussions about football. Wil used to play tuba for his high school marching band, but he eventually put down his horn to intern at The Washington Post. The Louisiana State University graduate enjoys gardening, comedy, and music.
J.D. Capelouto is a local news reporter covering City Hall and all things intown Atlanta for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His work focuses the City Council, neighborhood issues, public safety, housing and transportation. J.D. was born and raised in Atlanta and has lived in the city all his life, except for four years at Boston University, where he studied journalism and learned how to dress for cold weather. He’s been with the AJC since 2018, and has previously written for The Boston Globe and the Thomson Reuters Foundation. When he’s not reporting or scrolling through Twitter, J.D. enjoys pop culture podcasts, “Survivor” and visiting various pools around Atlanta.
About the Authors
Wilborn P. Nobles III covers Atlanta City Hall for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He began covering DeKalb County Schools for The AJC in November 2020. He previously covered Baltimore County for The Baltimore Sun and education for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans. He interned at the Washington Post. He graduated from Louisiana State University.
J.D. is a local news reporter covering intown Atlanta and Atlanta City Hall for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
