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

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.