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DeKalb budget changes: $12M housing investment, police funding increase and $10.8M eHOS distribution explained
Summary
Director Siegler walked the FAB Committee through proposed FY2026 millage-rate changes and midyear budget revisions that prioritize a $12 million housing investment, increases for police hiring and AMR costs, reallocation of old capital balances and distribution of remaining eHOS reserves totaling $10.8 million.
Director Siegler presented a midyear budget update and proposed millage adjustments for FY2026. Key items included a $12,000,000 investment in housing (housing bonds and unhoused assistance), increased funding for police (roughly $9,000,000 midyear to cover hiring and overtime costs), $1.5 million each for Medcura and MOSAIC health partners, AMR contract impacts, and a planned distribution of remaining eHOS reserves totaling $10,800,000 (approximately $4,800,000 to unincorporated areas to provide local tax relief via the police services millage rate).
Siegler walked commissioners through changes by fund (police, fire, parks, roads), explained that police increases reflect hiring and earlier overtime costs, and noted changes in how insurance premium taxes are allocated. He also explained that an $11,000,000 audit adjustment reduced the starting fund balance and that salary savings from unfilled positions and the reallocation of old capital balances ($7.32M identified) are being used to offset midyear needs.
Comparisons and context: Staff compared DeKalb’s millage adjustments with those of municipalities inside the county and explained the mechanics of the eHOS credit and reserves (Siegler said 2025 was an outlier due to use of approximately $30M in eHOS reserves the prior year). Commissioners discussed fund balance goals (targeting ~4 months) and asked for further detail on vacant positions and the forthcoming salary study.
Board action and next steps: Staff noted a substitute resolution for agenda item 10‑45 (correcting a minor typo and attaching the school board’s millage resolution) and brought that forward for a committee vote; Commissioner Shakira Johnson moved approval, Commissioner Michelle Long Spears seconded, and the committee approved the substitute by voice vote. Staff said they will continue to identify one‑time savings and return to FAB in September for possible additional cleanups and in October/November for CIP and budget timeline discussions.
Why it matters: The midyear changes reallocate resources toward housing, health and public safety at a time commissioners said federal funding for those areas has declined and county priorities have shifted to fill gaps in services. Commissioners requested follow-up materials, including the presentation slides and vacancy/attrition data, and staff committed to provide updates and to coordinate budget timelines with constitutional officers.
