DeKalb Commissioners adopt amended 2025 budget after public hearing; CEO amendments and FAB items included

DeKalb County commissioners unanimously approved an amended 2025 annual budget at the March 6 Committee of the Whole meeting, adopting a substitute budget that incorporated amendments proposed by the chief executive officer and recommendations from the Finance, Audit and Budget (FAB) Committee.

The budget vote followed a second public hearing and a line-by-line review of CEO-requested adjustments and FAB Committee proposals. Commissioners approved the substitute budget by roll-call after the administration summarized changes that included grant fund carryovers, district office equalization, targeted contributions to CIP and technology upgrades, and funding for new executive positions.

Why it matters: The adopted 2025 budget reallocates county resources across operations, capital projects, and special funds and establishes funding for several new positions and initiatives that the administration said will support housing, education outreach, IT modernization and unhoused assistance.

Key changes and new items adopted

- Grant fund carryovers and special revenue recognitions: The substitute added revenue and matching expenditures for multiple grant funds that were not included in the original agenda packet because they were accepted late in FY24.

- District office equalization and ARP interest: The budget equalizes Board of Commissioners district office budgets to $960,000 each (including a $300,000 reserve/appropriation) and transfers $4.5 million in ARP interest to be split among district offices.

- New executive positions: The CEO proposed—and the board approved—funding for two executive positions described as a chief housing officer and a chief education officer. The administration said the housing officer will coordinate housing and homelessness initiatives across departments; the education officer will lead public-facing education and outreach on county initiatives.

- Technology, CIP and facilities: The budget included a $1 million contribution to technology for the Bluff Auditorium renovation and $1,073,400 for renovation of rented office space for the public defender (partially reimbursable by the property owner). IT received additional operating funds to centralize computer replacement and software needs.

- DCTV and unhoused assistance: DCTV received $348,000 to backfill operating and equipment costs after PEG fund reserves diminished. A $1,000,000 allocation was set aside as general fund support for unhoused assistance, to be further defined by the housing officer.

- Court and public safety funding: The budget restored or added funding for court reporters, interpreters, judicial security, superior court programs (Project Pinnacle, accountability courts), and other justice system needs. The district attorney and solicitor general received funding for digital forensics, evidence housing and case-management systems.

- Stormwater, sanitation and vehicle funds: Supplemental appropriations addressed loan repayments and equipment replacement needs in sanitation and stormwater funds, including salt and sand spreader replacement.

Board action and procedure

Commissioner Ted Terry moved to approve the substitute budget; Commissioner Shakira (Chakyra) Johnson seconded. The board voted by machine and the substitute passed unanimously. The administration said it will continue work on several items earmarked for the "30-day list," bringing additional details and contract or CIP sourcing for items such as graffiti remediation under a rail underpass and several land-acquisition or trail projects.

Context and next steps

During the FAB Committee review, commissioners asked central staff to bring back certain items for further detail or to identify the most appropriate funding source (for example, tourism product development funds, SPLOST or leftover park bond funds). The board also instructed staff to clarify the process for carrying forward commissioner appropriations from FY24 that were not expended by year-end; administration said a memo with detailed timelines and instructions would be circulated to commissioners before the end of the week.

Ending note

Commissioners thanked county staff and the CEO for the work to reconcile committee recommendations and administration requests into a single substitute. The adopted budget now becomes the countyFY2025 spending plan; staff will return with implementation steps and any needed contract or CIP agenda items as they move from planning to procurement.