The DeKalb County Commission plans to spend $39.4 million on libraries, parks and sidewalks, using funds originally approved by voters a decade or more ago.
The commission approved allocating the money Tuesday on a 3-3 vote, with Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May breaking the tie.
Among other projects, $6.5 million will go toward a new recreation center at Tobie Grant Park in the Scottdale neighborhood near the Perimeter.
The commission also appropriated $3.3 million for planning a new library south of Stone Mountain at Wade Walker Park, which could result in the eventual closure of the smaller Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg Library.
The rest of the money was dedicated for library upgrades, sidewalk construction and park improvements across the county.
DeKalb voters approved the funding in bond referendums in 2005 and 2001, but the county never spent all of the money as previously planned projects struggled to get off the ground. The money accumulated about $18 million in interest over the years.
“We’re talking about transparency and taking care of the needs of the citizens,” said Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton before Tuesday’s vote. “They want more than us giving rhetoric.”
Commissioners who voted against the proposal said that while they supported funding the Tobie Grant Recreation Center, they wanted more time to consider the county’s priorities for the other projects.
“There is a way to do this, and the information needs to go on the table,” said Commissioner Kathie Gannon. “But that does not negate the need for Tobie Grant to have a recreation center that this county has promised them for years.”
Commissioners Sutton, Larry Johnson and Stan Watson voted for the measure, and Commissioners Gannon, Nancy Jester and Jeff Rader voted against it.
“With this vote, we can utilize the dedicated funding that is already in place and get these important projects completed for the people of DeKalb County,” May said in a statement.
In all, $19.1 will be spent on parks, $14.7 million on libraries and $5.6 million on roads.
About $35.5 million comes from the 2005 bond referendum, and $3.9 million was left over from funding approved in 2000.
About the Author
