Beginning this summer, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens wants to invest more city funds into Atlanta’s youth, infrastructure and public safety agencies.
The mayor’s office on Monday released Dickens’ proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which begins July 1. At $790 million, it would be the largest general fund budget in Atlanta’s history, if it’s approved by the City Council.
Dickens wants to use at least $6.3 million to improve the city’s At-Promise Centers, youth programs, and youth employment opportunities, among other youth-centered investments citywide.
In his letter presenting the budget to the Atlanta City Council, Dickens said his proposal doubles down on the city’s commitment to making Atlanta the best place nationwide to raise a child.
“In a city with the potential of ours, we can and should make all of the critical investments necessary to ensure that residents across Atlanta benefit from best-in-class service delivery in a safe environment focused on inclusive prosperity,” Dickens wrote.
Dickens wants to invest $6.2 million into new vehicles and equipment for Atlanta’s police and fire personnel, expanding the city’s new take-home car program to recruit and retain police officers.
The mayor outlined plans to spend $10 million each on capital improvements and pay raises for city employees. With those funds, Dickens said he wanted to improve the conditions of city-owned buildings. He also wants to provide citywide premium pay and a 2.5% cost-of-living raise for the second year in a row.
Dickens also wants to put $8 million into the city’s affordable housing trust fund. Dickens didn’t initially include any money for the new fund in his first proposed budget as mayor last year. He later provided $7 million to the fund after a week of pushback from housing advocates.
Atlanta’s 2024 budget breakdown
Dickens wants to provide an additional $11 million to the Atlanta Police Department, bringing APD’s general fund budget to more than $247 million. That’s more than 31% of the mayor’s proposed budget. And at more than $109 million, Atlanta’s fire rescue department would still have Atlanta’s second-largest budget.
Atlanta’s law department would receive the largest budget increase among all city departments — a nearly 40% bump to $10.7 million.
Atlanta’s transportation department would lose $7.1 million under Dickens’ proposal, leaving it with more than $50.3 million. Meanwhile, the city’s budgets for its executive offices, IT, corrections, Parks & Rec department, judicial agencies, and non-departmental agencies would each get at least $1 million more than the current budget.
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