Fulton County approves $1.7M boost for arts; board also OKs recurring $3M for 2026

Fulton County commissioners voted Sept. 17 to add $1.7 million to the Department of Arts and Culture budget for 2025 and to establish a recurring $3 million allocation for the department beginning in the 2026 budget.

The resolution, brought forward by Commissioner Khadija Abdul Rahman and cosponsored by Commissioner Martin Arrington Jr., Commissioner Carissa Barrett and Vice Chair Bob Ellis, passed 6 yeas, 0 nays after several amendments and procedural votes. The item had been moved up on the agenda earlier in the meeting so a cosponsor could be present for the vote; that motion to move the item passed 4 yeas, 2 nays.

Why it matters: Commissioners and arts leaders said the additional funding will restore program support that had been reduced in recent years and provide stable, predictable funding for arts organizations countywide. Commissioners who had previously opposed or abstained on earlier iterations of the proposal said they supported the final package to ensure arts groups would receive immediate relief and recurring funding in 2026.

The discussion and votes Commissioner Abdul Rahman moved the amended resolution that explicitly stated “expenditures which relate to the jail consent decree or which emerge as part of the normal budget sounding process are not considered enhancements as it pertains to this resolution.” That amendment was seconded and became part of the motion on the floor.

Commissioner Carissa Barrett said she would support the measure and warned that delays earlier this year had “held the arts community hostage” and could have caused organizations to shutter or lay off staff. Barrett said, “Iam going to support the arts, and I will vote yes because I want to support the arts.”

Commissioner Mo Ivory, who has repeatedly brought arts funding proposals to the board this year, said, “I will vote for it because that is what we need to do, which is give you your money.” Ivory also attempted to strike language that would have limited the board—s ability to consider other funding enhancements in 2025; that amendment failed 3 ayes, 4 nays.

County staff and the county manager briefed commissioners about the staffrecommended allocations and the process for distributing the funds: an estimated $1.5 million will be allocated to pre-identified organizations according to the Arts Council—s preliminary allocation list, while a residual amount will be distributed to a set of eligible organizations that had not received grants in the first round.

What the resolution does and next steps The approved resolution increases the Department of Arts and Culture—s 2025 appropriation by $1,700,000 and identifies a recurring funding source for a $3,000,000 annual allocation beginning with the fiscal 2026 budget. The board did not specify implementation details beyond directing staff to execute the allocation per the department—s recommendations; departments will present budget line items during the 2026 budget process.

Supporters and critics Supporters pointed to economic and community benefits, calling stable arts funding a component of quality-of-life and workforce development. Several commissioners, including Arrington and Barrett, said they regretted the delays earlier in the year that postponed funding decisions that could have assisted organizations earlier in 2025. Commissioners who raised procedural objections said clarifying language was needed to ensure the county could still respond to urgent needs elsewhere in the budget year.

Ending note The board adopted the resolution by voice vote with a final tally recorded as 6 yeas, 0 nays. County staff said they will provide details on allocation and timing to the arts community in the weeks ahead.