DeKalb blames gun law for ballooning security costs

A gun law passed by the General Assembly in 2014 has caused DeKalb County's security costs to jump roughly 73 percent, according to Police Chief James Conroy.

He said the county spent roughly $600,000 more on security costs in 2017 compared to three years prior, mainly because it needs more armed guards patrolling public spaces.  The  2014 measure, which Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law, allows concealed weapon permit holders to carry their guns inside most government facilities.

The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved spending an additional $1.4 million to cover the costs of the contract with All N One Security Services through January 2019. The company supplies armed and unarmed guards, but armed guards are paid more per hour.