The DeKalb County Commission passed a $1.33 billion mid-year budget Tuesday that includes start-up funding for police body cameras, a modest tax rate cut and money to clear government land for future economic development.
The commission approved the budget on a 4-3 vote, with some commissioners wanting less spending or more significant tax decreases.
Before the budget passed, the commission removed $500,000 for an ongoing outside investigation being led by former Georgia Attorney General Mike Bowers, as well as $208,000 for the District Attorney's Office to hire four employees in its Public Integrity Unit in the last four months of the year. Commissioners said they will consider allocating that money in the future if those expenses can be justified to them.
The tax cut, proposed by Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May, reduces property tax rates for residents living outside city limits from 21.21 mills to 20.81 mills — worth roughly $50 a year on a $300,000 house. But many residents will receive higher tax bills because residential property assessments have risen 17 percent. County taxes on city residents will go up compared to last year, but city tax rates are down over the last two years combined.
About $1 million was appropriated in for police body cameras, which DeKalb Public Safety Director Cedric Alexander said would increase transparency and accountability. The county has applied for a $1 million matching grant from the federal government, and the combined funding could equip nearly 500 front-line officers with cameras next year.
The budget also includes $3 million to demolish unneeded buildings and clear 117 acres of land behind the DeKalb County Jail along Memorial Drive. May said that land could be used for a public-private partnership or for a "Downtown DeKalb" development that consolidates government services.
The biggest expenses in the budget go toward basic sewage and public safety services. About 35 percent of the budget pays for water, sewer and sanitation, while 28 percent of the county’s spending goes toward police, fire, sheriff, and court services.
Commissioners Larry Johnson, Mereda Davis Johnson, Sharon Barnes Sutton and Stan Watson voted for the budget. Commissioners Kathie Gannon, Nancy Jester and Jeff Rader voted against it.
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