[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6250459,"mediaKeyId","3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9","parentId",3201557,"title","City treasury reports $7.5 billion outstanding debt and $2.12 billion in cash and investments; ratings remain strong","audioSeconds",212,"startMs",3562000,"endMs",3774000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9&start=3562&end=3774","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9/thumbnail_3562000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250459/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/City-treasury-reports-75-billion-outstanding-debt-and-212-billion-in-cash-and-investments-ratings-remain-strong","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250459-18ac7fdaebed57b3675f1f0c5166dc86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771060977&Signature=ZYhq4aFtXF72zpUxHx9dGEn1YTg2gQAvnjdE58I5p~mDXvDyHXL36xzGXSr3L53AHGdvE~JDEmqo8Csgiw~jYuu76Ybs5LBpgF~cHwgoj4U5xNrU95CFJSTWPOXwaGwzkK9y359ndX8E95Zyj36sfYM07SHlOfHS8zmSk5vznoDTUGLkFsSOY4fSQhFEfofStTwmYouaCD6Iwjgn9Im5yPXqeZse~YD5VbMCtAgV0cgMyPiWlyGeMJhWD6PlrQ4Q0k3fvIfB3BnbkYFbeQwHxiVYpGv3SHTGIcrVJs0l7FtAqkEhBTofZj4HVbP3DhkCHxzqLfJHWWgUMTE670CZkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-06T18:42:59.18Z","article","Courtney Knight, head of the Treasury Debt and Investments unit, told council the city’s outstanding debt portfolio stands at approximately $7,500,000,000, with about 48% tied to the aviation enterprise and 35% to the Department of Watershed Management. The City issued a small ‘‘baby bond’’ of $4,000,000 that Treasury said state law permits annually without a referendum.

Knight said cash and investments totaled just over $2.12 billion and that the portfolio seeks safety and liquidity while earning yield; Treasury reported an average yield of about 4.1% and noted a recent net decrease in cash and investments largely tied to a cash optimization transaction for Watershed and higher outlays.

On credit quality, the treasury presentation highlighted the city’s first Fitch AAA rating in its history for a portion of its credits and upgrades to airport ratings from pandemic era downgrades; Watershed and other obligations continue to carry strong ratings from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.

Council members asked whether refunding opportunities existed; Treasury said it had not identified net present value savings over the past year but expected a possible refunding of some Watershed bonds in the near term.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","#Atlanta City Council FY2026 Budget Briefing Morning Session May 6, 2025 #atlpol","oneSentenceSummary","The Department of Treasury reported about $7.5 billion in outstanding debt (largest share to Aviation and Watershed), net cash and investments of roughly $2.12 billion, an average portfolio yield near 4.1%, and continued top ratings including the city's first Fitch AAA for some credits and improved airport ratings.","taxTitle","Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",2959,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6250464,"City finance staff report $81.9 million in impact‑fee balances and $63.9 million in trust funds",155,3243000,3398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9&start=3243&end=3398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9/thumbnail_3243000.jpg","/articles/6250464/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/City-finance-staff-report-819-million-in-impactfee-balances-and-639-million-in-trust-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250464-19665d410c1f0bacf50c893b831c9406/orig.mp4?Expires=1771060977&Signature=SZ47r~4Pi9HxufiZUaTrQl8dnQDJFHVJPBJ2SdAzwuBTu2QVsxav2DsVl8ulIDi6b4olGAY-hOqjLi0Q2CzmXJ75o2wbMcWBRsnMfwLRHugpCnt~ZHuwVGO7F3-IE5JYYh1c5a7lX~iFkwdrn8r9z9R9Hg0TJPzo3YpfZV5NyTl3QzoyLBczyc~eT9dddFzSC5-SF-1xxet9Xr1FT9a~vcjyQLnpF-Ay42J9Hsbr69onh9r~rUVul34j7nc6HE6WWDb0MmP1SK5cMNGr0ZAn4qvLUuFowZYnjAl5L1gorkbvZOWYW84H3SFG4raOgKmH78LmAg-HMQ~K6rsEvZpStg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tiffany Jones Golden, the city’s interim controller, briefed the council on impact fees and the city’s trust funds. As of March 2025, the impact fee fund balance was $81,900,000; the presentation broke those balances into unrestricted and restricted amounts by service area and noted transportation citywide has the largest restricted allocation.

Golden explained the prior impact fee ordinance left the city with a single transportation service area; recent updates established three transportation service areas (North, West and South) to better align fees with where growth is occurring and the funds are committed. The largest restricted transportation citywide amount cited in the presentation was $37,800,000 restricted with $1,400,000 unrestricted.

Golden also outlined the city’s trust fund balances: the city holds 197 individual trusts totaling $63,900,000 as of March 2025, with the top ten trusts representing 57% of the total balance. She noted certain trusts are being spent down (for example, the affordable housing trust) and that restricted trust funds support legacy or specialized community programs.

Council members asked for a project‑level listing of restricted impact fee balances; staff said they will provide an encumbrance schedule showing the projects tied to restricted funds.","Interim controller Tiffany Jones Golden told council the city's impact fee fund balance was $81.9 million (March 2025) with transportation citywide the largest restricted balance; the city also holds about $63.9 million across 197 trust funds, with the top 10 trusts representing 57% of the total.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6250469,"Atlanta budget plans personnel increases and full cost of compensation study; vacancy review board to limit backfills",4666,1222000,5888000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9&start=1222&end=5888","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9/thumbnail_1222000.jpg","/articles/6250469/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Atlanta-budget-plans-personnel-increases-and-full-cost-of-compensation-study-vacancy-review-board-to-limit-backfills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250469-46102daee18a646750b0bef15f913c0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771060977&Signature=iwG9JZBeo-FFAcZMR5bG9QLlvhKgvVLquonoGsc0W49QoKLwb7TJR3GQXw0LvQZ6uSi35JCbumEla2yxx0pZ8JGnLj30tr1RcwaLSpVTSG2VK1sSPIlA9y61IjGeRos4g9MEk3K8hU5C5-sYGzHQlEG-grRXikEeCTXjp380BQps4mfbC7cwLdaz94RbirV6Pnypf6xPq~COwkTL8R78isLjgjl5ubnxXzzswU1f~VXBJNT647A1q4~WYIsWjb8bjyyx7KEEOh0cXGitogWATViYDoKTeOr0xjjOdLliKzbhYBSyHDETSAPrVjxJcBv6mAxcfA4-7TRRvFmqwIF0Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Operating Officer Lashandra Burks and budget staff told council that personnel and employee benefits drive much of the general fund change in FY26. Burks said the administration is completing phase two of its compensation and classification study and that “everyone had to take a minimum of a 5% cut in order in this fiscal year” to right‑size operations.

Budget chief Gabriel told council that personnel services and employee benefits account for the largest year‑over‑year variance in the general fund, noting an $83.9 million increase that reflects implementation of the class and compensation adjustments, the integration of premium pay into base pay and healthcare cost increases.

Councilmembers questioned how many positions would be reduced through attrition and vacancy review. Gabriel said the city had already absorbed roughly 50 FTEs and anticipated additional reductions by allowing natural attrition and stricter vacancy backfill approvals; staff estimated a targeted range of roughly 50 to 100 more FTEs to be absorbed over time through the vacancy review board process.

Law enforcement and corrections were a topic of particular interest. Councilmembers asked about overtime trends and jail bed use and revenue from Fulton County. Finance and public safety staff said overtime in the Atlanta Police Department has dropped and that the corrections operation faces staffing and segregation requirements that keep staffing levels from falling in direct proportion to population in the jail.

The administration said it did not plan to eliminate core programs as part of the FY26 proposal and that the proposed personnel increases represent targeted investments to retain talent and meet service needs.","The FY26 proposal includes higher personnel costs tied to completing a multi‑year compensation and classification study, premium pay integration, and targeted public safety staffing; city leaders said they reinstated a vacancy review board and required departments to take minimum cuts in FY25 to align spending with revenue.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6250474,"Atlanta projects property‑tax growth and modest FIFA windfall while cautioning on economic risks",644,1726000,2370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9&start=1726&end=2370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9/thumbnail_1726000.jpg","/articles/6250474/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Atlanta-projects-propertytax-growth-and-modest-FIFA-windfall-while-cautioning-on-economic-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250474-c49ca5dd0d2925aec5b01102c96c628a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771060977&Signature=htLKWopAmUvuC7Vr7kZnb87UKrc0lVutLvylnKc5xWKx9IIH-UfhVUriPJ14I9Uw42ND7pd~ZtWNhrianCdWunAgwJFZNr8qXOExJOjPH8A4T5QkafVHwlcujsQYUgxQ7zdi2vv-XAG9G4Z6OD3EDYzdFUwW3Xus9~yCmb15f3Stt5rd0aggGZKiSTQLBy9qRrPsjU~ZG2aEyTcVSgN9l74liJ3GiV0ZCDLMQK6oHl76pz3MSN03OBUt7NB-tFVKxxFealups2ODZyH8h-YTG5-IfcYLEXShR5B8VRAnpkUHgHwN3N~qZlyUMugzKabjM1-2HKiWurAjuyTPaS7bxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawrence Davis Jr., revenue chief for the City of Atlanta, told the council that four core revenue categories — property tax, local option sales tax, public utilities/beer & wine/other taxes, and licenses and permits — account for roughly 85% of the FY26 proposed budget. “Starting with our largest revenue contributor to the proposed FY 26 budget at 40% is property tax,” Davis said.

City staff said taxable assessed values rose from about $35.0 billion in 2021 to $47.8 billion in 2025 (digest data presented by staff), and the FY26 proposal includes a projected property‑tax increase of roughly $72,970,000 driven by growth in values and a proposed operating levy change that incorporates recently enacted defeasance steps.

Officials also flagged event‑driven revenue assumptions. CFO Mohammed Balam told council the city conservatively estimates about $4,100,000 of FY26 revenue tied to hosting FIFA World Cup matches; staff noted that FIFA will not finalize match draws until December, which limits visibility on precise visitor volumes and associated spending.

Council members asked staff for follow‑up detail on nonrecurring FY25 revenues, intra‑fund transfers, and whether property‑value trends could reverse if a downturn materializes. Finance staff said they would provide itemized tables and noted that the city’s budget timing (the digest is set at the calendar year beginning) provides earlier visibility on the property‑tax base than some other revenues.

Staff identified two revenue categories expected to show small decreases in FY26: building rentals/concessions (driven by reduced Fulton County inmate housing revenue) and pilot and franchise fees (a modest decline tied to one WaterShare line item).","Finance staff told council that property tax will remain the largest revenue source for the FY26 proposal (about 40% of core revenues), cited a conservative $4.1 million FIFA-related boost, and warned that tariffs, national recession risk and tourism declines could constrain collections.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6250479,"Atlanta finance team proposes $3 billion FY2026 budget; leaders stress caution amid recession risk",3490,370000,3860000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9&start=370&end=3860","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3201557-2378f053bab818c8e4b90d574614f2e9/thumbnail_370000.jpg","/articles/6250479/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Atlanta-finance-team-proposes-3-billion-FY2026-budget-leaders-stress-caution-amid-recession-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250479-f9351ca055de7ced3efd1d9f1ea11547/orig.mp4?Expires=1771060977&Signature=ayr2PCJ491paGP7tbjqsaOiELaaTlwT5Rg3bCwQcwEILP1umS8A8JNm6m2h2BOsLRcFAnrcGo-eQHaRocXVKLjzn~vfSPBFrABGQO6aSJUxfCk~bS3HcCXmp0TviPFY1GQSuOhrK7lyY8O0BavJHfJrlJovKNNPxzSQlenvu6AJijqq~qQBg9zLrtRrHCphfUfUeJxSimy5lrcnYwrdUpAJjCrlTX-JqHbqxCTg4ODs72kRDZKstgKhcw6dA6-lyqVC5iom2hmcbGQ0rbCDUMXq4Lx6sK1HEXSZawp30qHH0qGbQE0iQUzZKolzgQvp1HfpQFTeTsOD~Bo38XboiTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mohammed Balam, the city of Atlanta’s chief financial officer, presented the administration’s proposed fiscal 2026 operating budget to the City Council on the city’s budget briefing day, saying the total operating budget proposal is $3,000,000,000 and that the plan “ensures that you have a transparent and comprehensive view of the city's financial landscape.”

The proposal includes a general fund of $975,400,000 and reflects an 8% increase in the city’s total operating budget compared with FY25. The administration emphasized right‑sizing and efficiency steps taken during FY25, including department‑level spending reductions and a reactivated vacancy review board aimed at controlling hiring and personnel costs.

Council members pressed finance staff on downside risks. Several members, including Councilmember Dozier and Councilmember Shook, asked whether the proposal is sufficiently conservative given recession risks, recent declines in tourism, and uncertainty about the net revenue from hosting FIFA World Cup matches. CFO Balam and COO Lashandra Burks said the budget team used conservative revenue assumptions and reallocated some debt service savings after council approved defeasance legislation the prior day.

The presentation also flagged investments the administration proposed to continue: completion of the city’s compensation and classification study, targeted investments in public safety and infrastructure, affordable housing allocations, and funding for Year of the Youth initiatives. Budget staff said public safety remains a priority; the public safety allocation in the proposed general fund budget is roughly $473,000,000.

Council members asked for additional detail on several items — including the composition of nonrecurring revenues in FY25, how many full‑time equivalents (FTEs) will be absorbed through attrition, and the expected FY25 year‑end fund balance — and staff said they would provide follow‑up tables and departmental hearings.

The budget packet and departmental briefings will proceed through the Council’s normal review and hearings schedule before final adoption.","City finance officials presented a $3.0 billion proposed operating budget for fiscal 2026, highlighting a larger general fund, planned investments in public safety and housing, and continued reliance on property tax growth while warning of national economic risks and uncertainty around FIFA-related revenues.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City treasury reports $7.5 billion outstanding debt and $2.12 billion in cash and investments; ratings remain strong

City finance staff report $81.9 million in impact‑fee balances and $63.9 million in trust funds

Atlanta budget plans personnel increases and full cost of compensation study; vacancy review board to limit backfills

Atlanta projects property‑tax growth and modest FIFA windfall while cautioning on economic risks

Atlanta finance team proposes $3 billion FY2026 budget; leaders stress caution amid recession risk