DeKalb County budget committee approves amended midyear budget amendments; forwards package to full board

The DeKalb County Finance, Audit and Budget Committee on Monday approved an amended midyear budget amendment spreadsheet and directed staff to prepare the package for the Board of Commissioners. Committee Chair Commissioner Ted Terry said the budget "is our top priority here today."

The committee reviewed two sets of requests: longer-term capital improvement program (CIP) items and a short-term list of items proposed for this fiscal year. Budget Director TJ Siegler walked the committee through the spreadsheets and told members the first two pages were longer-term CIP projects totaling about $61.9 million that will be folded into a five-year CIP plan for FY2026 consideration. Siegler said the administration will recommend funding sources and return recommendations with the FY2026 budget.

Members discussed several line items and made adjustments to how some requests will be presented. Commissioners asked that certain design and construction costs be separated into distinct line items — for example, Mason Mill Senior Center design costs were clarified separately from an $11.36 million construction estimate. Committee members also agreed to evaluate whether specific CIP projects are SPLOST-eligible; COO Williams noted the county will consider SPLOST and other…