Doraville council unanimously adopts FY2026 budget after second public hearing

The Doraville City Council voted unanimously to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget after a second public hearing and debate on the plan’s priorities and details.

City staff described the year ahead as a “transition year,” noting an approximately $15.7 million increase in the overall budget driven by capital project funds, newly annexed parcels and grant activity. The presentation said the budget creates a capital projects fund that consolidates grant funding, includes about 578 annexed parcels, provides a 3% merit pool for employees and funds three new positions — two code-enforcement officers and one maintenance position — along with a communications team and funding for police vehicles and connectivity grants. “This year our fund structure is a little bit different… this year it is the capital project fund,” the budget presenter said during the public hearing.

Major items called out in the presentation included: $5 million in anticipated grant revenue, funding for the library’s temporary rental costs, pilot solar street lights, traffic-calming measures and continued investment in stormwater and public works equipment. Staff said some projects will be paid entirely with outside grants; others will use the city’s capital funds.

Residents used the hearing to press for more detail, particularly about downtown investments and operating impacts on the library. One speaker said the downtown “people’s building” could cost as much as $50 million; city staff and multiple council members disputed that figure during the hearing, saying the $50 million number did not appear in the budget document and that downtown work is funded through bonds and other mechanisms rather than the operating budget. “For the sake of anyone watching, there’s no $50 million number anywhere in this budget,” a council member said in response to the claim.

Library operations were a recurring concern. A resident, Susan Frzy of Oakliff Estates, asked whether the library would retain weekend and evening hours; staff answered that total staffing levels were unchanged but confirmed Saturday hours were not currently scheduled, and several council members urged staff to prioritize restoring weekend hours as the library completes its move into temporary space. Council members repeatedly noted they wanted the budget to preserve core services while investing in capital needs.

Council members also described smaller programmatic choices included in the budget: a $5 million set-aside for grant matches, an 80/20 federal/state grant structure for some connectivity projects, surveillance equipment for police funded through grants, and a $1.3 figure referenced for stormwater — the presentation did not explicitly put units on that figure in the hearing.

After public comment, a council member moved to adopt the FY2026 budget “as presented.” The motion received a second and the mayor called the roll; every listed council member voted “yes,” and the motion carried.

What happens next: staff said detailed project schedules and grant documentation will be posted to the city website as they are finalized. Council members asked staff to return with written commitments on library hours and to provide additional line-item detail where residents requested it.

Votes at a glance: Motion to adopt FY2026 budget — outcome: approved (roll call: Council Member Armistad: yes; Council Member Henshaw: yes; Council Member Simmons: yes; Council Member Evans: yes; Council Member Ray: yes; Council Member Kent: yes).