DeKalb commissioners debate and defer decision on adding legal, financial and communications staff to BOC budget

Commissioners on the DeKalb County Operations Committee opened extended discussion on a proposed FY2025 budget amendment to add three roles to support the Board of Commissioners — legal counsel, a financial consultant and a communications director — and to consider an additional IT support role. The committee did not adopt the amendment; members voted to defer final action for 30 days to allow further consultation with the chief executive’s office and staff.

The amendment (agenda item 250197) was presented as a package to add legal counsel, a financial consultant and a communications director; presenters initially described legal counsel and communications as envisioned full-time and the financial consultant as a consultant. A sponsor suggested alternatives during the meeting: testing roles via a six-month pilot, using a legislative consultant in lieu of a full-time legal hire to assist with drafting and research, and drawing the communications director from an existing vacant, budgeted position.

Supporters argued the Board needs independent, dedicated resources. One commissioner said the board requires more assistance to meet its obligations and to have legal advice that would respond directly to commissioners’ legislative and policy needs rather than only through the county attorney. Opponents and other commissioners urged caution, noting the county attorney’s office currently provides legal services to the county and is organized as a dual-reporting office; interim County Attorney Matthew Welch described the county attorney’s duties and confirmed the office provides legal advice to the board and the chief executive. "The county attorney is a dual report," Welch said, and described how the office assigns teams to departments while the county attorney remains the ultimate legal decision-maker for the county.

Several commissioners signaled they would support only a financial consultant at this time; one commissioner and staff noted the administration has planned, in its budget process, to procure a financial consultant via RFP and suggested the board coordinate with that procurement rather than creating duplicate spending. Commissioners also discussed whether a communications director should be a mid-level staffer or a senior communications director with strategic experience; some said a communications position remained budgeted but unfilled from prior cycles and could be repurposed.

After debate, a motion to approve only a financial consultant was made but another commissioner successfully moved to defer the entire item for 30 days to gather more information and to align the proposal with administration procurement plans. The committee approved the 30-day deferral by voice vote.

Ending: Committee members asked staff and the administration to return with clarifying information, including precise budget impacts, whether the administration’s planned consultant can serve the board directly, and proposed job descriptions or scopes for any positions the board wishes to pursue.