The DeKalb County Commission is expected to approve Burrell Ellis’ amended $559 million budget for 2012 on Tuesday, despite lingering concerns over ongoing property declines and some surprise bills.

For months, the commission’s budget committee said it would try to cut from Ellis’ original proposed $547 million budget. They also wanted to cut from the updated budget, which included $12 million more in surplus than originally planned.

That’s because Ellis’ new budget also included $10 million more in medical insurance costs, an overage commissioners blamed on lack of finance department oversight. Despite the changes, the budget does not include a tax increase or any major service cuts.

Commissioners want to address those worries during the first half of the year and may still make cuts to personnel or service during midyear budget review in June.

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Angie McBrayer, ex-wife of James Aaron McBrayer, leans her head on her son Sam McBrayer as she and her three children and two grandchildren (from left) Jackson McBrayer, 3, Piper Jae McBrayer, 7, Katy Isaza, and Jordan McBrayer, visit the grave of James McBrayer, Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Tifton. He died after being restrained by Tift County sheriff's deputies on April 24, 2019. His ex-wife witnessed the arrest and said she thought the deputies were being rough but did not imagine that McBrayer would die. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC