DeKalb PECS committee reviews midyear TAD finances, approves appointments and contracts and defers several ordinances

DeKalb County commissioners on Tuesday received a midyear financial update on the county’s tax allocation districts, approved several appointments and contract changes, and deferred multiple proposed ordinances for further review.

Tiffany Wills, vice president of redevelopment and strategic initiatives at Decide DeKalb, presented a midyear TAD report covering first‑ and second‑quarter activity and the status of current awards and pending applications. Wills said the “total tax increment revenue generated in the first six months of this year was approximately $1.1 million.” She reported that TAD fund balances vary by district, noting Avondale’s cash balance at about $5 million, Market Square at roughly $580,000 and Southwest DeKalb around $626,000; she said Kensington and Briarcliff also have standing balances and that Decide DeKalb was reviewing eight pending TAD funding applications totaling about $22.5 million in requests.

Why it matters: TAD funds are local public incentives intended to spur redevelopment in targeted areas. Commissioners pressed Decide DeKalb and legal staff on process, transparency and coordination with district commissioners before TAD awards are finalized.

Discussion and follow‑up

Several commissioners asked for clearer, earlier notification when developers submit TAD funding requests for projects in their districts. Commissioner Ted Terry asked whether funds collected since Decide DeKalb began managing TAD special funds in 2018 are under Decide DeKalb’s control; Wills explained that Decide DeKalb manages awards but that disbursements of county‑held cash typically require county action for funds collected prior to 2018. Terry and other commissioners asked Decide DeKalb to share project fact sheets once underwriting is complete and before the board of directors takes action.

Commissioner Michelle Long Spears pressed the administration on the termination date for the Briarcliff/North Druid Hills TAD; Wills said the original 2007 plan did not include a stated expiration…