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Youth commissioners urge $20 million SPLOST increase, sidewalk grading and maintenance plan for DeKalb County
Summary
Two youth commissioners presented a proposal to boost SPLOST 3 sidewalk funding by $20 million, create a county sidewalk-condition analysis and resident reporting system, and broaden mobility funding to include trails and other non‑car infrastructure.
Anna Connors and Riley Perret, members of DeKalb County’s youth commission, told the Public Works & Infrastructure committee that improving sidewalks and tracking their condition should be a county priority.
“We are asking to increase the transportation purposes for the SPLOST 3 funding by $20,000,000,” Connors said, explaining the youth commission’s recommendation to allocate additional SPLOST dollars for sidewalk installation and related mobility projects. The pair said their research included a 75‑respondent survey in which 90% of respondents said sidewalks were important.
The presenters recommended two main initiatives: raising the share of transportation funding in SPLOST 3 to aid installation and creating a sidewalk analysis that grades panels by maintenance need and allows residents to report issues. The proposal also suggested expanding petition access to renters and adopting a five‑year maintenance cycle that rotates through commission districts.
Commissioners responded positively. Commissioner Robert Patrick praised the work and recalled earlier sidewalk mapping in District 1, while Commissioner Ted Terry recommended treating sidewalks more like roads by creating a grading system for prioritization and considering trails as part of broader mobility funding. Commissioner Shakira Johnson said a safety‑based rating could help target installations and repairs.
Questions focused on the evidence base and scope. The presenters cited a survey they said included residents from Decatur Square and other areas; they reported 40 pedestrian roadway fatalities in DeKalb County in 2024 but agreed to follow up to clarify whether those crashes were specifically linked to sidewalk absence or other pedestrian circumstances.
The committee discussed financing options, including neighborhood‑level special service tax districts that would fund planning and construction if residents agreed to the levy. Terry said the county’s law department has drafted statistical rules for defining a tax district ‘‘halo’’ around existing sidewalks and trails, which could help neighborhoods decide whether to pursue local funding.
The chair suggested the policy be considered for SPLOST 3 (anticipated in 2029) and thanked the youth commissioners for their recommendations. The committee did not take formal action on the proposal during the meeting; commissioners indicated further study and integration with SPLOST planning would be appropriate as the SPLOST 3 cycle approaches.
