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DeKalb County Council approves routine appropriations, wage ordinance and raises hotel tax to 8%
Summary
At its June 10 meeting the DeKalb County Council approved several additional appropriations for testing and insurance, advanced a wage ordinance by second and third reading, found tax‑abatement recipients in compliance and voted 6–1 to raise the county innkeepers (hotel) tax from 5% to 8%.
DeKalb County Council approved a string of routine but consequential items on June 10, including small additional appropriations, job‑description updates, an hourly wage ordinance reading and a county hotel‑tax increase to bolster tourism promotion.
Key votes and outcomes - Minutes: Council approved the minutes from May 13, 2026; Amy Proer abstained because she had not attended that meeting. - Appropriations: The council approved an additional appropriation listed on agenda paperwork as '124,26' to cover public‑safety insurance budget shortfalls (staff noted the document format made the exact figure unclear). The council also approved $5,000 for Family Recovery Court drug testing and $2,500 for probation ATC participant testing; staff said tests range from $11.77 to $35 each. - Job descriptions and wage ordinance: The council approved three updated veteran service office job descriptions (change of hours and a shift to an office manager rather than a deputy). An ordinance identified in the record as '2026‑OCC day six' (a salary/hourly wage amendment for a Veterans Affairs administrative assistant) was approved on title and then approved on second and third reading after the council suspended rules. - Tax abatements: The council voted to find listed tax abatement participants in substantial compliance and approved the abatements. - Innkeepers (hotel) tax: After discussion on how the county and cities will interact under the new local income‑tax and wheel‑tax regimes, the council voted to increase the county's innkeepers tax from 5% to 8%; the vote was announced as 6–1 in favor. The ordinance language will be finalized and returned for formal adoption.
Why it matters: The appropriations and job changes were routine budget governance, but the innkeepers tax increase shifts a county revenue stream and dedicates more funds for tourism promotion. The wage ordinance amendment affects a county salary classification and was advanced with suspension of rules.
Quote: "All those in favor signify by saying 'I'," the chair called during multiple roll‑call‑style votes during the meeting.
Next steps: Staff will finalize the innkeepers ordinance text for the next meeting; the approved job description changes will be implemented and appropriation requests for new GIS staff will return in July.
