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Youth commissioners urge $20 million boost to SPLOST 3 for sidewalks, propose county-wide condition mapping
Summary
Two DeKalb County youth commissioners presented a plan to increase SPLOST 3 transportation funding by $20 million for sidewalk installation and to create a county sidewalk condition analysis and five-year maintenance cycle; commissioners endorsed the idea and discussed funding and tax-district options.
Two members of DeKalb County’s youth commission told the Public Works committee that sidewalks and maintenance are a safety and mobility priority and asked commissioners to increase funding and create a systematic analysis to guide repairs and installations.
"Lack of sidewalk installation and analysis poses safety and health risks," said Anna Connors, a youth commissioner, while outlining a two-part plan to boost sidewalk funding and institute a walkability analysis. The presenters asked the county to raise the transportation portion of SPLOST 3 by $20,000,000 and to adopt a maintenance-focused grading system that would cycle through one commission district per year.
The presenters — Anna Connors and Riley Perre — said their team surveyed 75 DeKalb residents and found strong local support for prioritizing sidewalks. "Our research shows that there were 40 pedestrian casualties in DeKalb County in 2024 and 59 the year before that," Riley Perre said during the presentation, citing the group’s compiled figures and national studies about walkability benefits. The youth commissioners proposed a mapping system that would let residents report sidewalk conditions and that would grade sidewalks by maintenance need.
Commissioners welcomed the recommendations. Commissioner Ted Terry praised the idea of applying a grading system similar to the county’s road-priority process and suggested broadening the funding request to include trails and other non‑car mobility infrastructure. Commissioner Shakira Johnson said the proposal was timely with SPLOST 3 planning three years away and asked staff to evaluate lead times and procurement implications for large equipment.
Several commissioners discussed funding mechanics. Commissioner Robert Patrick raised the idea of neighborhood-level financing through a special service (tax) district, and department staff said the law department has drafted an approach that uses a half-mile service 'halo' to determine eligibility and funding potential; neighborhoods would decide whether to accept a self-imposed assessment.
The presenters acknowledged limits to their data: their survey sampled Decatur Square and nearby areas, and they offered to provide more detailed safety and casualty breakdowns on request. Commissioners encouraged staff to fold the youth recommendations into SPLOST 3 planning and to return with options for implementing a sidewalk‑grading and maintenance program.
The committee did not take a formal vote on funding at the meeting; the matter was left for further analysis and inclusion in future SPLOST planning.
