City HR outlines FY26 personnel paper: up to 873 actions, hundreds of abolishments and a fast timeline

Interim Department of Human Resources Commissioner Calvin Blackburn told the Atlanta City Council that the FY26 personnel paper submitted for review includes hundreds of staffing actions across city departments and is intended to realign the workforce to match operational needs.

"This ordinance outlines proposed personnel actions across various departments," Blackburn said as he introduced a slide pack that plans 873 total personnel actions, including 125 abolishments, and 325 total abolishments when midyear adjustments and additional department submissions are combined.

Blackburn and his team summarized that the personnel paper includes a mix of abolishments, position creations, reclassifications with and without incumbents, salary-grade amendments and funding-allocation adjustments. The presentation listed 125 abolishments in the printed paper, 93 additional abolishments submitted by departments the previous day, and 107 abolishments processed in a midyear paper, which together bring the estimated total abolishments to 325.

Departments outlined specific actions during the hearing. Examples included: - Atlanta Department of Transportation: 46 total actions with a shift of some positions from the general fund into capital funds to accelerate capital delivery. Commissioner Solomon Cabins told the council the funding allocations are "moving to capital." He also reported a prior midyear abolition of 88 positions and additional reductions expected. - Aviation: 103 actions mainly converting mission-critical extra-help roles into permanent positions for a 24/7 operation and reorganizing divisions; the department reported no unfunded vacancies. - Parks and Recreation: 153 actions including 142 position transfers from the general fund into the parks millage fund and seven abolishments; the department said the transfers represent about $9,200,000 and primarily fund maintenance roles such as tree trimmers, gardeners and park workers.

Council members pressed for details about the difference between funded and unfunded vacancies and how many of the listed vacancies are funded. Vice Chair Juan asked for an updated chart of funded versus unfunded vacancies across departments and requested that HR and finance produce that information before the substitute personnel paper scheduled for Wednesday. Blackburn said HR would work with departments to gather the data and expected an updated package by Tuesday close of business.

Finance and HR staff described the process: departments submit a request-to-fill; the Office of Budget and Fiscal Policy reviews and advises the Vacancy Review Board, which then approves mission-critical hires or denials. Council members asked whether that process is sufficient given the ease by which unfunded positions can be filled if funding is later identified.

Several council members also asked for monetary breakout information where positions are being moved to special revenue or trust funds, citing the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the parks millage as areas of interest. Jolanda Carr of Finance noted transfers to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund were initially estimated at about $2,000,000 for the positions moving in this round. Council members said they expect an updated, line-level accounting of positions, funding sources and expected dollars before final votes.

Blackburn closed by saying the substitute personnel paper on Wednesday is expected to be the final version and that the HR team and departments would provide the 'Shook report' (year-over-year headcount) and updated funded/unfunded vacancy charts on Wednesday. No formal personnel actions were taken at the hearing; the meeting served as the public review and question-and-answer session for the personnel ordinance.