A revised $1.3 billion budget proposal from Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May aimed to appease commissioners Tuesday, but stark disagreements remain over the county's financial priorities.
May and his budget director, Jay Vinicki, told commissioners that they will balance the 2015 budget without having to rely on $15 million in immediate savings from refinancing bonds. Instead, May proposed spreading those savings over the next 15 years and using unspent bond proceeds to compensate for much of that loss of revenue.
DeKalb commissioners appeared receptive to May’s proposal, but they lack consensus on the spending plan that’s supposed to be approved by the end of this month.
The board is locked in a political stalemate over several issues, with three commissioners on each side. The seventh seat on the commission, representing southeast DeKalb, has been vacant for more than a year and a half since Gov. Nathan Deal appointed May to replace CEO Burrell Ellis, who is facing criminal charges.
“I don’t know where it leaves us,” said Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton, the chairwoman of the Budget Committee. “We usually have seven commissioners, so I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Commissioner Jeff Rader said he was concerned about the increase in expenses, including the $5.8 million it takes to pay for 3 percent raises for the county’s 6,500 employees.
“Money doesn’t grow on trees,” Rader said. “If we’re not earning more, we can’t pay more.”
Commissioner Larry Johnson said he needs to ensure enough money is dedicated for police protection and public health. May’s recommended budget calls for $116 million in police fund spending, a 3.2 percent decrease from last year.
“I want to make sure we’re not just talking about public safety but also putting some teeth behind it,” Johnson said.
Commissioner Nancy Jester also questioned the drop in public safety spending while noting increases for other government departments.
“We’re definitely buying into bloated government here,” Jester said. “We’re not enhancing public safety but we are over-investing in employment.”
About the Author
