[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,75,86],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6566708,"mediaKeyId","3203242-33f6280592b3e5a29267ad73dcf240e0","parentId",3203242,"title","DeKalb administration proposes distribution of $2.4 million in opioid settlement funds to behavioral health, sheriff and public health programs","audioSeconds",135,"startMs",1947000,"endMs",2082000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203242-33f6280592b3e5a29267ad73dcf240e0&start=1947&end=2082","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203242-33f6280592b3e5a29267ad73dcf240e0/thumbnail_1947000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566708/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-administration-proposes-distribution-of-24-million-in-opioid-settlement-funds-to-behavioral-health-sheriff-and-public-health-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566708-b1c03f0b0d895b3c3b932c45ab62aa8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440811&Signature=RwXOZmuHLM6lHT6yIbyWJTup28qqorWm6LXWIWpQ3owyvn~5Y7VpTj5JHYSSX-BtNPP8HwH6bgE0gcW5Zlr0wz4fOi~GAnhLKRpxXnk~ZuoSUXYw-CCa1e8gz0DFEn1IVfjlLc6BoUDnHYaEx077umptUA5W4oJ~SN8GHvbY~PqRcI0bfr2J3dtIVOErZGXAOafAYCAOu~sSR7clgihWnBePlkq78GwMWlQZv~oBhMjEsg3jQcq2VnbvHLNKehMVP~KYHvGUMDLrVTbmYVh0ydSXean3H-x8xFK3aVjk9I95hFY-UCcAEhmzsdl8O3VMtRwTHgbYTS9v4jsibWnHRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb County","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","The county administration presented proposed disbursements from opioid settlement funds during the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 6, recommending a total allocation of $2,398,131 to three county recipients.

Chief administrative staff summarized the proposed distribution as follows: $1,300,000 to Claretel Behavioral Health, $620,000 to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, and about $434,000 to DeKalb Public Health. The funds are intended to support treatment, training and lifesaving supplies such as naloxone (Narcan). \"Part of the settlement allows us to, mass a certain amount of funds ... part of the settlement accounts for purchasing of Narcan, providing training, and things like that,\" a county staff member explained.

Committee referrals and next steps: Commissioners suggested committee assignments for further review and oversight. The Sheriff's portion will be heard by the Finance, Audit and Budget (FAB) committee because of the Sheriff's Office budgetary oversight; Claretel Behavioral Health and Public Health allocations were recommended for discussion in the Public Safety/Community Services (PECS) committee. Commissioners said the items would appear on next week's committee agendas for more detailed review prior to final board action.

Why this matters: opioid-settlement funds are restricted by the settlement terms to address harms caused by opioid distribution and typically finance treatment, harm-reduction supplies and related public-health interventions. The disbursement will direct county resources for treatment, naloxone procurement and first-responder support.

Ending: Commissioners referred the three allocations to the appropriate committees (FAB and PECS) for detailed review next week and signaled intent to consider final approvals after committee discussion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeKalb County - Board of Commissioners - Committee of the Whole - May 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Administration presented a proposal to disburse $2,398,131 in opioid settlement funds across Claretel Behavioral Health, the Sheriff's Office and DeKalb Public Health; commissioners directed portions to relevant committees for review.","taxTitle","DeKalb County, Georgia","taxId",3571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_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":73,"_74":73},6566712,"DeKalb commissioners object to Chamblee annexation and approve $1.215 million settlement purchase of 540 Kirk Road; board votes to enter executive session",0,11610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203242-33f6280592b3e5a29267ad73dcf240e0&start=11610&end=11610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203242-33f6280592b3e5a29267ad73dcf240e0/thumbnail_11610000.jpg","/articles/6566712/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-commissioners-object-to-Chamblee-annexation-and-approve-1215-million-settlement-purchase-of-540-Kirk-Road-board-votes-to-enter-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566712-49891d303f78f150ad57cd2a2dc9fd47/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440811&Signature=ks-XbryE0Re-tTv25ERz-F4KrKwgiB~3x9JpHZRKHZUAwhdf8tstKMhEdUjaAgiK0aThmbGYotqlVDtFjM819zTx-aJrVO-nz0PaZNczzYH0Qdi~D0089wRC6tAR4jDvu2VduiiklChdaT54-V1rXivNq1gxb-9SpG5VD75Vwq5rPXyC8iScZxNEt62sD0obOVVjvrrP6su--gWaNyqQbV~buPercck7SGnAGBS2-tLy9sIokBszPj7JpKZhMbqSXAPiOg-MRQtASFhlRtF39VMwmJAJjnjqICrOyKgvSXD4sfk0GfK6AEZOQBsPtJHvfyT97jZQ-cEQae7nUXdbKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted on multiple formal actions at its Committee of the Whole meeting on May 6, including an objection to a proposed City of Chamblee annexation, approval of a conditional settlement that includes the countys purchase of 540 Kirk Road to resolve pending litigation, and a motion to enter executive session to discuss litigation.

Objection to proposed City of Chamblee annexation: Commissioner Robert Patrick moved that the board approve a resolution objecting to the proposed annexation of approximately 4.98 acres into the City of Chamblee; a second was recorded and county attorneys confirmed the objection meets statutory requirements. The administration said the written objection would be filed the next day to meet the Friday deadline. The motion carried.

Settlement and purchase to resolve litigation concerning 540 Kirk Road: Commissioner Ted Terry moved that the board approve payment totaling $1,215,000, plus customary closing costs, in connection with DeKalb Countys purchase of the property at 540 Kirk Road, Decatur (Parcel ID 1521513024), to settle the lawsuit filed by Heidi Benjamin (civil action 23-CV-4838 in Superior Court of DeKalb County). The settlement as described on the record conditions the payment on the following: dismissal of the lawsuit by the plaintiff; execution of a settlement agreement and waiver and release satisfactory to the interim county attorney; and the plaintiffs conveyance of good, marketable fee simple title by limited warranty deed free of monetary liens and encumbrances other than existing county sewer infrastructure. The board authorized the interim county attorney or his designee to sign the settlement agreement and closing statement once those conditions are met. The motion passed.

Executive session: County counsel requested an executive session expressly to discuss litigation; the board voted to move into executive session. After a lengthy executive session the board reconvened and recorded that it had completed the closed session.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded in the transcript):
- Object to proposed annexation into City of Chamblee (approx. 4.98 acres): motion moved by Commissioner Robert Patrick; second recorded; outcome: approved (board voted in favor). Referenced filing deadline: objection to be filed by Friday following meeting.
- Approve settlement and purchase of 540 Kirk Road to resolve Heidi Benjamin litigation: motion moved by Commissioner Ted Terry; second recorded (unnamed); outcome: approved (board voted in favor). Total settlement/purchase amount: $1,215,000 (of which $1,170,000 is for the countys purchase and $45,000 is allocated to the plaintiff and counsel for fees/expenses); customary closing costs also authorized; no real estate commission to be paid.
- Motion to enter executive session (litigation; possibly also real estate and employment): moved and seconded; outcome: approved.

Why this matters: the annexation objection is a formal, time-sensitive intergovernmental step the county can take to preserve local control or raise legal concerns; the settlement and property purchase will resolve active litigation and transfer land into county ownership under specified conditions.

Ending: County attorneys confirmed the objection will be filed promptly and the interim county attorney is authorized to close the settlement transaction if the conditions listed by the board are satisfied.","At the May 6 Committee of the Whole meeting the board approved a formal objection to a Chamblee annexation application, authorized a conditional settlement purchase totaling $1,215,000 to resolve a lawsuit over 540 Kirk Road, and voted to enter executive session to discuss litigation.",{"_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":73,"_74":73},6566717,"DeKalb County staff outlines 2025 millage timetable and estimated rollback rate of 9.737 mills; vote planned May 13",805,564000,1369000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203242-33f6280592b3e5a29267ad73dcf240e0&start=564&end=1369","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203242-33f6280592b3e5a29267ad73dcf240e0/thumbnail_564000.jpg","/articles/6566717/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-County-staff-outlines-2025-millage-timetable-and-estimated-rollback-rate-of-9737-mills-vote-planned-May-13","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566717-958855cdca153e5108ce572c18f2b1e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440811&Signature=mn73~NSxEtnpLmqEW3~4gbQSBxRbRii1euMpbqfAJ4UTHvnAiZTTu8RxvPYOKOVqijqsbnJZkW3YRddR027DOf4cGhRIlbaf9BJZHwT~kUaZL0YjFzD5U~4bqZmztivG43L4-x~qC8KmthTEYyBjyuoz88rgc2gDxZEvg8NoJyKoZEpXtMXf31I2yZrkQqv1iyCVOYhKfAWZfBRGN3htwvyhesPSY7lyjpxV8daQMRjQI0V5X41J-Nx1tql24qHh1c3Nhd6fSOLiBMTq~XgfXeiiAB6lkGbGyUApJoYvWP-I068P0jBlsjWncxr8JFT3PXmWChb6yLIOUkv6ZB4EQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DeKalb County staff presented the countys 2025 millage-rate timeline and the new state-required estimated rollback-rate disclosure during the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 6.

The presentation by Mr. Sigler, identified in the meeting as \"mister Sigler,\" explained the mechanics of the estimated rollback-rate calculation and listed the countys public hearing and certification deadlines. \"So today, we're discussing the millage rate process for 2025, as well as some of the new requirements from state law,\" Sigler said as he opened the presentation.

The county's preliminary calculation showed an estimated rollback rate of 9.737 mills for 2025. Sigler walked commissioners through the inputs used in the calculation: the 2024 certified net digest, the net value added by reassessment of existing property, other net digest changes (for example, new construction and property sales), and the 2024 millage rate. He said the county used the preliminary 2025 digest figures provided by the Board of Tax Assessors to compute the estimate.

Why this matters: state law changes (cited in the presentation as HB 581, later amended by HB 92) require governing authorities to certify an estimated rollback rate and to print that estimate on the annual Notice of Current Assessment mailed to property owners. If the final adopted millage rate exceeds the certified estimate, the tax bill must include language informing taxpayers that their tax liability will increase relative to the estimate.

Sigler outlined the schedule the county plans to follow: a vote to certify the estimated rollback rate at the boards May 13 business meeting; a vote on tentative millage rates on May 29; public hearings, including a daytime hearing at the regular board meeting and an evening hearing starting between 6 and 7 p.m. on June 20; a possible third hearing in early July; and final adoption of millage rates in July so that property tax bills can be mailed on the planned August 15 schedule. \"This whole timeline is predicated on us being able to mail the property taxes on 08/15,\" Sigler said.

Sigler said growth in the tax digest has slowed compared with recent years. He reported average gross digest growth of 9.4% for 2017\t2024 and a projected 4.9% gross increase for 2025; net digest growth averaged 7.9% over that multi-year period and is projected at 4.7% for 2025. He told commissioners that slower real-estate market activity and lower new-development volume were among the possible explanations for the reduced growth rate.

Commissioners asked for copies of the materials. Commissioner Marita Davis Johnson asked for the certified 2024 digest and the preliminary 2025 digest; Sigler said the 2024 certified digest could be provided immediately and that the county would distribute the preliminary 2025 digest as it became available. Commissioners also discussed whether the tentative millage and advertising should be set by the CEO or approved by the governing authority; Sigler recommended bringing a tentative millage to the board for a vote before advertising to improve transparency and align with the new statutory language.

The board did not take a final vote on millage rates at the Committee of the Whole meeting. Commissioners were asked to take up certification of the estimated rollback rate at the May 13 business meeting so the county can meet the 15-day pre-postmark statutory timing for the annual notice of assessment. The administration noted the preliminary digest and supporting calculations would be circulated to commissioners prior to that meeting.

Ending: County staff will provide the preliminary 2025 digest and the full rollback-rate calculation to commissioners ahead of the May 13 meeting, when the county is scheduled to vote on certifying the estimated rollback rate. If the board certifies the estimate, the county will print it on the annual notices of assessment as required under state law.","County staff reviewed new state requirements for the 2025 millage process, presented an estimated rollback rate of 9.737 mills and a schedule of required hearings and deadlines; commissioners were asked to certify the estimated rollback rate at the May 13 business meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DeKalb administration proposes distribution of $2.4 million in opioid settlement funds to behavioral health, sheriff and public health programs

DeKalb commissioners object to Chamblee annexation and approve $1.215 million settlement purchase of 540 Kirk Road; board votes to enter executive session

DeKalb County staff outlines 2025 millage timetable and estimated rollback rate of 9.737 mills; vote planned May 13