DeKalb County Board approves affordable housing trust fund proposal funded by hotel tax revenue

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on April 3, 2025, where key discussions focused on sustainability initiatives and affordable housing funding.

One of the primary topics was the proposal to create a Sustainability Board as part of the Clean Energy Transition Plan. Commissioners discussed the need for further collaboration with the CEO's office to ensure the plan aligns with other ongoing projects. A motion was made to defer the discussion on this item to the May 13 meeting, allowing for additional input from both the Operations and Public Works committees.

Another significant agenda item was the establishment of an affordable housing trust fund. The Board voted to designate 1% of the 8% hotel-motel tax revenue for this fund, starting in 2025, pending further funding approval. This initiative aims to provide a dedicated source of revenue for affordable housing projects, which has been a topic of ongoing deliberation among the commissioners.

Commissioner Terry emphasized the importance of identifying reliable funding sources before fully committing to the trust fund's creation. The discussion highlighted the potential use of hotel-motel tax revenue, which has been utilized by other cities for various community projects.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore funding options and the operational framework for both the Sustainability Board and the affordable housing trust fund. The next steps will involve continued discussions among commissioners and staff to refine these initiatives before the upcoming meeting.