[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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],{"_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",6245776,"mediaKeyId","3222084-d85ed738670c74f80fcb270e4cb4b454","parentId",3222084,"title","Atlanta Corrections seeks $27.9M in FY26 budget as jail operations expand with Fulton County agreement","audioSeconds",996,"startMs",3594000,"endMs",4590000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3222084-d85ed738670c74f80fcb270e4cb4b454&start=3594&end=4590","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3222084-d85ed738670c74f80fcb270e4cb4b454/thumbnail_3594000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6245776/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Atlanta-Corrections-seeks-279M-in-FY26-budget-as-jail-operations-expand-with-Fulton-County-agreement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245776-7fe1394c1eb1340f55de4cad2032a889/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158119&Signature=Kuf11Cco-GY8qqemfj~8OBmrLgFwlJhE9Mazf7pm4nrvhFSWSG0dF9Mp-5T4V5CrtfQm4N4JHMZqZyBFZRW2SU7Q2v9t72qmIzV3Sy32i7q5-335WES8~S9hgUFz5kt8fhGZb6AxhymuJzABtNU~wrBxzX0PH1G~kWa~42HomMTnYTlWCUBDd78rW~dYSUpjEN0lCHiPWafYmiuJt4gAErLLMwJonxlS1-klkLKil1WckMUYGJlqmok1i099dxCXTIM1iKfc0TR2HoqqyTAYi6RL4ZTBGuwzzcXumxYLag8pua49WnEU8qMClEuY3sHPoZSZH1YXk-JDYRllVUC0Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-07T15:53:38Z","article","The Atlanta Department of Corrections (ACDC) presented its FY26 proposed budget to the City Council, outlining a roughly $27.9 million request that officials said would fund personnel, technology upgrades, maintenance and compliance work tied to rising facility use and operational demands.

Chief of Corrections Elder Dancy told council members the FY26 request represents a 7.6 percent variance against the department’s FY25 projection and that personnel services and employee benefits account for the largest share of the increase. “This will help right‑size our personnel to the current spending level,” Dancy said.

Dancy described a string of operational improvements in FY25: conversion of the jail’s closed‑circuit television from analog to digital, outfitting ACDC officers with body‑worn cameras, equipping vans and buses with in‑car video, and installing an X‑ray scanner at the loading dock. He also said the department and partners implemented remote electronic bonding and that the Fulton County diversion center opened in January, giving officers an alternative to arrest for some low‑level incidents.

Officials noted the city operates the facility and provides facility maintenance. ACDC is operating under a four‑year intergovernmental agreement with Fulton County that began December 2022 and runs through December 2026; that agreement allows Fulton County to use up to 700 beds at ACDC. Since the agreement began, the department said Fulton County detainees have averaged about 355 daily; as of the presentation the department recorded 373 Fulton County detainees in custody. Finance staff estimated Fulton County payments to the city at roughly $7–8 million for FY26, reconciled monthly on occupancy.

Dancy said the department’s headcount snapshot as of February showed 222 authorized positions across the general fund with 135 sworn positions and 50 civilian filled positions, plus vacancies (19 sworn and 22 civilian). He and deputy staff emphasized that the corrections hiring and training timeline differs from other public safety trades: state jail certification is followed by department internal training; the presentation described the state academy as roughly two weeks and an internal training period of six to eight weeks, with a one‑year probationary period.

Councilmembers pressed on overtime and extra‑help expenses. Finance staff and the chief said the department has reduced overtime from levels seen in FY24; ACDC reported overtime spending around $2.2 million in FY24 and a projected $1.5 million in the current fiscal year. The chief said that unpredictable demands—transports to Grady Memorial Hospital, medical holds and surge events—contribute to overtime use, and he noted a newly executed contract security supplement at Grady that the department expects will reduce some staffing pressure.

The presentation also described accreditation and compliance work: ACDC is budgeting for American Correctional Association (ACA) reaccreditation and for Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) enhancements, including installation of body scanners at the main entrance and intake to strengthen perimeter security. The department said those steps and other investments are intended to “avoid … negative exposure,” including investigations and findings of deficiencies.

Councilmembers asked for additional information: receipts from Fulton County over the prior year, more detail on overtime drivers, and clarification of which positions in the headcount are fully funded versus authorized but unfunded. Finance staff agreed to provide receivable detail and to continue working with the department to reconcile vacancies, funding status and staffing plans.

Chief Dancy closed by thanking department staff and noting Corrections Week activities scheduled during the presentation week; he invited council to participate in recognition events.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","#Atlanta City Council FY2026 Budget Briefing Morning Session May 7, 2025 #atlpol","oneSentenceSummary","The Department of Corrections told council it expects a FY26 proposed budget of about $27.9 million, citing higher personnel and supply costs, a multi‑year Intergovernmental Agreement with Fulton County and investments in security and accreditation work.","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},6245781,"Atlanta Fire Rescue outlines FY26 budget priorities: staffing, new apparatus and stations",305,25000,330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3222084-d85ed738670c74f80fcb270e4cb4b454&start=25&end=330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3222084-d85ed738670c74f80fcb270e4cb4b454/thumbnail_25000.jpg","/articles/6245781/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Atlanta-Fire-Rescue-outlines-FY26-budget-priorities-staffing-new-apparatus-and-stations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245781-8d0cb3171e5fa12e74b784e221edf04b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158119&Signature=QB4nszl47tfYeTcQYR48Nfcujz22WilsbjKgGkduwZWE0rCTyIQ-iOSGqzfEvjF5u0I8VKgkZKnKY-ZZA1Jbci9ZI~hUzqNqpnGbL86zv3NApFfFGFU4VGMTI2V3jfvzixC-o6d7ZJGCJzSHgkSIwuyGEMpxcRapRxIEMr28UIixB562MfI8RmPNntFxbwqTDVra-dBnnJd3hLJUvpvf4-YnelRV522SHmL-RnQA1IxAxMRh9bp9qj4P1kcjLeTL6umPQ0~G-JTkAhpj8UaO1O8KXoE4Xoa3UJYhaYh354T5bABuZgHD8jKU37uQnTWvDybpiIjbUUhKoKseR8J0~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Atlanta Fire Rescue presented its proposed fiscal 2026 operating priorities to the Atlanta City Council, emphasizing efforts to reduce sworn vacancies, expand apparatus and complete new stations while managing overtime and contractor costs.

The department said the proposed FY26 staffing and capital requests are intended to sustain a department the presentation described as maintaining an ISO Class 1 rating and completing a fifth reaccreditation cycle. Those credentials, the presenter said, “translate into the lowest insurance costs that we can provide to the citizens of Atlanta.”

Atlanta Fire Rescue’s presenter, identified in the hearing as the representative of Atlanta Fire Rescue, told council members that the combined general fund and aviation fund headcount for the department is 1,322 budgeted full‑time equivalents and that the sworn vacancy rate is 12.13 percent. “We currently have 118 recruits,” the presenter said, adding the department will hold recruit graduations quarterly through the next year and that “the next graduation is scheduled for May 19” at the new Public Safety Training Center.

Councilmembers and the department focused questions and discussion on overtime, the impact of the compensation and classification study, and near‑term fleet and station projects. Councilmember Helles asked whether a union request to add a monthly Kelly day for firefighters had been considered; the presenter said labor talks on that and other stress‑reduction measures are ongoing and that the department is pursuing technology and response‑model changes to reduce call volume.

Chief O’Hare, who answered council questions about vehicles and maintenance, said “currently, we have 2 engines and 4 trucks that are under repair, of which 3 of those vehicles are due to accidents.” He described recent deliveries and donations, citing replacement of battalion vehicles, three EMS supervisor cars, and two Rivian EMS support vehicles donated by the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation. The department said orders already placed include five engines and two tower ladder apparatus (TDAs) expected to arrive in the next fiscal year; the presenter added the formal FY26 request is for six engines and three ladders.

On facilities, the presenter listed recent and active station projects: Fire Station 22 is open; ground has been broken on Stations 26 and 30; and Stations 25 and 31 are “soon to come.” The presentation noted a multistation replacement list is being developed and that the department has been coordinating funding and construction planning with other city offices. The presenter said the department is working with the Department of Finance to reconcile a roughly 16 percent variance in the general fund breakout and is focusing on overtime spending, reducing contractor services and consolidating purchases such as turnout gear.

Councilmember Wan and others asked finance staff to disaggregate the FY26 personnel increases to show what portion of the department’s roughly $19 million budget increase is base salary and benefits tied to a full year of the compensation study versus new FTEs. Yolanda Carr, deputy chief financial officer, agreed to take that request back to finance and provide the analysis to council.

Council questions also touched on specialized response needs for the BeltLine and wildfire/vegetation fires, where the department said it is considering mini‑pumpers, bike teams and foot patrol units to increase presence and improve response in nontraditional, lightly vegetated corridors.

The department described recent internal work prompted by a city fleet maintenance audit: it said all 10 audit recommendations have been implemented in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and that a fleet replacement plan is in place. The presenter acknowledged some unclear timing in the presentation materials about the fleet plan horizon and said finance and the department would provide clarifying documentation to council staff.

The presentation closed with department leaders inviting follow‑up questions and offering to return with requested breakdowns and additional detail on vacancies, overtime and delivery schedules for apparatus.","Atlanta Fire Rescue told City Council members it is prioritizing filling sworn vacancies, expanding its fleet and opening stations as part of its FY26 budget presentation, while flagging a 12.13% sworn vacancy rate and plans for quarterly recruit graduations.","actionData","errors"]

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Atlanta Corrections seeks $27.9M in FY26 budget as jail operations expand with Fulton County agreement

Atlanta Fire Rescue outlines FY26 budget priorities: staffing, new apparatus and stations