If you’ve ever been to an Atlanta City Council meeting and tried to speak during the public comment section, you may have had to wait several hours to state your piece. Now, the city is proposing a change to its public comment system to help ensure that all residents can voice their concerns. Here’s what […]
City Politics
Posted inCity Politics
Council’s Vote on ‘Cop City’ Unlikely to Change Despite $67 Million Cost to Taxpayers
Building “Cop City” might cost taxpayers more than double what Atlanta government leaders have been telling the public. But the revelation about the public safety training center’s price tag doesn’t seem to be changing lawmakers’ stances on the project. Atlanta City Council members are scheduled to vote Monday on whether to greenlight $67 million to […]
Posted inCity Politics
‘Cop City’ Could Cost Atlanta Taxpayers $67 Million
The legislation to fund the controversial public safety training center known as “Cop City” is moving forward despite reports alleging it will cost Atlanta taxpayers twice what the mayor’s office has told the public. City officials have previously said that the Atlanta Police Foundation would cover about two-thirds of the facility’s $90 million price tag, […]
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Why Council Members Are Challenging Dickens Over Proposed Transportation Funding Cut
Atlanta City Council members are expressing disapproval with Mayor Andre Dickens’ push to reduce local Department of Transportation funding and staffing as city residents continue to demand that their pothole-plagued roads be repaved as soon as possible. The $790 million general fund budget Dickens’ office released earlier this month is the largest in Atlanta history. […]
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Some Key Line Items Are Missing From the Atlanta Budget. Where Did They Go?
When Mayor Andre Dickens released his record-breaking $790 million proposed Atlanta general fund budget earlier this month, the public was privy to details such as how much money could be appropriated for major departments like police, fire, and parks and recreation. However, the current proposed budget info doesn’t include specific funding request details for certain […]
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What We Learned From Atlanta Police’s Proposed Budget Presentation
This week, the leader of the Atlanta Police Department stated his case for their proposed $247 million budget. Chief Darin Schierbaum presented the department’s top priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, with personnel representing $202 million of the tab. Overall, the department is asking for an $11.7 million increase from the current year. “The number […]
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What You Should Know About the Largest Proposed Budget in Atlanta History
Tackling inequality in Atlanta is a key focus for Mayor Andre Dickens in his latest proposed general fund budget released Monday. The potential $790 million tab would be the largest in the city’s history if approved. Black residents have endured a disproportionate share of the added financial burden caused by the city’s rapidly rising inflation […]
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When and Where to Weigh In on the Latest City Budget
The process of finalizing the Atlanta budget starts this week, and there’s a lot happening that you should know about. Mayor Andre Dickens’ proposed city budget for fiscal year 2024 would be the largest in Atlanta’s history if approved. Should the city give raises to its employees? How much money should the city commit to […]
Posted inCity Politics, Politics, Social Welfare
What City Council Said Before Atlanta Released Its Largest Proposed Budget Ever
Mayor Andre Dickens has released the proposed city budget for fiscal year 2024. The $790 million general fund budget would be the largest in Atlanta’s history if approved. Between now and then, City Council members will spend roughly 45 days in committee hearings listening to Atlanta service department leaders make their case for their municipal funding requests. […]
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It’s Not Just the City of Atlanta. Black Residents in DeKalb Have Water Issues, Too
Earlier this week, Janis Gardner sat outside the DeKalb County government office in downtown Decatur looking for answers. It was early in the morning, but she waited, alongside a dozen others, for the 10 a.m. Board of Commissioners meeting. Next to her were fellow members of the DeKalb Water Watch, a community group created with […]