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DeKalb mayor says Meta brought jobs, taxes and community investments
Summary
DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes told the committee Meta’s campus created construction and permanent jobs, boosted school district revenue by roughly $19 million a year, and funded nonprofit giving; he urged weighing benefits alongside concerns.
Mayor Cohen Barnes of DeKalb told the committee his city has seen concrete local returns from large data center investment.
"Meta was about a 5 year project, and they employed over 1,100 construction workers," Barnes said, describing temporary construction employment and subsequent hundreds of operational positions. He said Meta has contributed about $1.2 million to local nonprofits so far and that the DeKalb School District receives roughly $19,000,000 a year in property taxes tied to the project, funds the district used to build a new elementary school and to increase its reserve balance.
Barnes said the city’s experience included unanimous approvals at planning and zoning and at city council after an active public-comment process. He urged legislators to consider the local fiscal benefits that have allowed his city to preserve services and invest in facilities, while also acknowledging community concerns that still merit attention.
