The Dunwoody City Council met on October 16th to have the first 2024 Budget hearing and handle other business. As most residents only learn of what happens at Council meetings via second hand news reports, I thought I would highlight what I thought was an important meeting, primarily as we discussed the future financial plans of the city. The second read and scheduled vote on the 2024 Budget will be happening at our next meeting, Monday October 30th.
Here is a link to the proposed 2024 Budget that cleared the budget committee.
https://jkheneghan.com/city/meetings/2023/Oct/10162023_Budget_Hearing.pdf
I have uploaded the meeting video to my server space and I will highlight a few conversations that I think you should watch; not that I am purposely skipping any other topics, participants, Mayor or Council-member statements or other public commenters as not being relevant; please do watch the entire meeting. Mayor Deutsch and Stacey Harris both gave touching remarks regarding the horrific events happening in Israel, the support of the community and the Dunwoody Police Department.
Please go to the Vimeo page to watch the meeting video, and if you click the "Read More" link you will see the same description and text as I state below, but the beauty is that the meeting time stamps are active and you can watch that segment without scrolling through. Closed Captioning is also available, just click the CC in the bottom right corner. I hope this is recap is informational.
In Public Comment, at 6:22 Bob Hickey highlights the need to prioritize police spending and asks us how we are going to rectify deficit spending not only this year but in the coming future. This gentleman's public comment was very germane to the 20224 Budget Hearing and discussions that we were going to have later in the evening on what the Council's plan is for addressing the long term structural deficit.
At 09:20 residents Michael Rock and Erika Harris (both people I know and respect) gave two very different pro-bond statements with Erika asking for the city to spread more bond information with a direct mailer to every resident.
In the City Manager report there is an item where a resident waited an hour for emergency transport and after waiting an extended time, the mother decided to drive their child to the hospital. Deputy Chief addressed my concern and a bit later at 40:49 Mayor Deutsch followed up with the Deputy Chief regarding an additional dedicated ambulance.
At 45:52 Finance Director Richard Platto starts his presentation and discusses the budget process and the numbers. At 1:09:47 Council member Stacey Harris, who served as this years Budget Committee Chair, described what the budget committee (Harris, Seconder & Heneghan) did and our thoughts on expanding the police department and providing raises in 2024 (that are not currently budgeted). Council member Robert Price asked a follow up question and we discussed the assessor's valuations and estimated tax digest when released in May.
At 1:17:40 Councilman Tom Lambert discusses the budget, the need for community investment, an analogy to the Atlanta Beltline which raised the tax digest in that area was made, with the thoughts that same tax digest bump could happen here in Dunwoody thereby, slowing or reversing the structural deficit.
At 1:27:30 Councilman Heneghan questions the Finance Director on revenue breakdowns (Residential / Commercial / Office). Heneghan discusses the city financial outlook as he sees it, locked revenue streams, concern over office vacancy rates, police funding (both the lack of raises and the additional number of officers needed as per professional analysis), the anticipated administrative contract raises in 2026, and finally his concerns over the $3.3 million dollars in the 2024 budget (on top of what might be approved in the $60 million dollar bond) being banked to fund multi-use (10 - 12 ft) paths in front of single family homes. Council member Heneghan agreed with investments in the community are needed especially as related to parks but wishes that Council split the bond referendum into two questions. He like the Finance Director has concerns moving forward and he stated that we have work to do.
At 1:34:33 Mayor Deutsch confirmed with the Finance Director that the $3.3 million being set aside for paths in front of single family homes in this budget is from Capital funds and not Operational funds, therefore can not be used to fund additional police or provide raises. She then went on to discuss if there was ever a drastic downturn (worst case scenario) that budget cuts could be made, she stated that we will take care of our police officers, she would hire 10 more officers tomorrow if we could, she discussed using more non-sworn officers. She discussed the work she is doing at the State Capital regarding EMS & ambulance service rules to free up officer time. She discusses police hiring, retention as a priority, as hiring officers is very difficult. Mayor Deutsch discussed office vacancies, she too has concerns but also sees glimmers of hope.
At 2:08:05 Councilman Seconder outlines how the City staff will work with residents directly affected by City projects. He read a statement from a homeowner who wants the 10 - 12 foot shared use path in their front yard.
At 2:13:30 the Mayor closes the meeting with comments that if the HOST & SPLOST ballot items don't pass, that your tax bill will go up. She had an interesting comparison between Sandy Springs and Dunwoody Tax bills which shows the differences of Fulton vs DeKalb and then the special financing requirements placed on Dunwoody during incorporation. The Mayor said that we will need to look closely at the fiscal reality that the City is in, reviewing the restrictions of incorporation and the promises made at the start of the city.
1 comment:
A "structural deficit" is never an acceptable option. You live within your means. You do what corporations that are successful do. Trim the expense side of the equation until you have at least a "break even" point. And public safety and protection of residents lives and property should be paramount. Don't try to leech more revenue from a shrinking tax digest. Just take a hard look at what "essential staff" is. You could cut it in half.
And the larger question. Why hide behind a highly compensated PR person. When are the Mayor and City Council going to do "no holds barred" town halls without staff running interference for them? The answer is never. Because you can't face critical issues alone as elected officials.
A town hall with zero staff and no time limits or filters until all questions are dealt with by our elected officials would be refreshing. Seems like cutting ribbons in the Crier or Reporter are what Mayor and Council like...rather than actually putting the work in.
I challenge the Mayor and Council to an open town hall with zero filters and no staff. But I'm going to call it in the open now. It won't happen. Because you don't care about being accountable. Cowardly. If you want to respond, prove me wrong.
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