The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners this morning approved a $1.328 billion Fiscal Year 2019 budget for the county. The vote was 6-1-0, with Commissioner Nancy Jester voting against it.
"We're moving in the right direction," CEO Michael Thurmond told commissioners. "We've gotten our fiscal house in order."
"This is the second year that we have successfully used a committee process that has informed our input to the budget," Presiding Officer Commissioner Jeff Rader said.
Jester said her vote against the budget was for philosophical reasons, adding "there's a lot to like in this budget," which she said addressed neglect "that had gone on a long time" in some areas such as parks and libraries. She said Thurmond "has listened very well and reformed some things that needed to be reformed."
Highlights of the budget approved by commissioners:
All spending is funded by revenue in the 2019 Fiscal Year budget, meaning a structural deficit of $24.7 million has been eliminated. The projected balance in the county's rainy day fund is $112 million, which would cover two months of county spending.
Two contract compliance officers are funded. CEO Thurmond said they will be independent of the Purchasing & Contracting Department. He said comparable positions existed until 2010 when they were eliminated. "Their primary responsibility is to review every contract or bid issued by DeKalb County, regardless of the amount, to ensure that all policies and procedures are followed," Thurmond said. "This was the result of a recommendation made by the independent auditor."
Contributions to the pension fund increase $11 million from last year to $63 million. A cost-of-living adjustment of 2 percent will be made and will be retroactive to the first of this year. "This represents the first cost-of-living adjustment for DeKalb County' 11,000 retirees and beneficiaries in 14 years," Thurmond said.
The budget also includes funding for 104 police positions and 60 new firefighter positions to staff SPLOST-funded rapid-response vehicles. A $575,000 renovation of the Maloof Building lobby is included to enhance security and improve customer service. The budget includes $470,000 to purchase and install a trash trap on the South River.
