The Community Development & Human Services Committee on Thursday heard sustained public opposition to a proposed extension of multiple Tax Allocation Districts (TADs), prompting the administration and councilmembers to pause the legislation and move community review and commission work into next year.

Courtney English, the mayor’s chief of staff, told the committee the administration would not advance TAD legislation this year and intends to run the proposals through the commission process and public engagement next year. He said the administration would “work with community, stakeholders,” and others to ensure a collaborative and transparent process.

Dozens of residents and advocates used the committee’s public-comment period to call for more transparency, stronger guardrails and oversight on how TAD funds are governed. Sally Flux, a longtime pedestrian advocate, said the city faces urgent infrastructure needs — including an estimated $2 billion backlog to replace century‑old water pipes and a 25‑year sidewalk consent decree — and warned that extending TADs would divert funds from those priorities.

Other speakers focused on governance and equity. Rodney McCullens and several others criticized the proposed oversight commission’s makeup as too dominated by large nonprofits and corporate interests and urged more direct representation of neighborhood residents. Nina Gentry and Jim Martin argued extensions should not happen before an audit of existing TADs is publicly released and examined; Martin estimated substantial long‑term revenue losses to the city, county and schools if extensions proceed without changes.

Incoming District 2 councilmember Kelsey Bond praised the decision to delay action and called for stronger accountability, including reassessing whether TADs are the right mechanism to advance affordable housing and community investment. Housing Justice League and other advocates urged democratizing the proposed housing trust fund and prioritizing deeply affordable units at or below 50% of area median income (AMI).

Councilmembers thanked residents for showing up and encouraged participation at Invest Atlanta and TAD subcommittee meetings. Several members also urged the public to press Fulton County and the Atlanta Public Schools to participate in discussions about how the TAD decisions affect county and school revenues.

The committee did not take any vote to extend TADs during the meeting; staff and councilmembers said a revised legislative package and further public review are expected in the next council term.