Rising property values caused DeKalb County tax revenue to increase beyond initial projection, and CEO Mike Thurmond wants to put the extra money toward reserves.

The county's rainy day fund would increase $14 million to $89 million, according to the mid-year budget that CEO Mike Thurmond presented on Tuesday. The Board of Commissioners must sign off on any adjustments.

In addition to heralding the increased revenue, Thurmond has also been talking up property tax cuts being implemented this year as part of a voter-approved 1-percent sales tax increase. This was part of a package deal that also implemented the SPLOST tax to pay for road paving and capital improvements.

“We are experiencing a harmonic convergence in DeKalb: property values are rising, homeowner taxes are decreasing and the county is poised to make critical investments that will improve our roads, streets, public safety and other infrastructure,” Thurmond said in a statement.

ajc.com
icon to expand image

About the Author

Featured

Fulton DA Fani Willis (center) with Nathan J. Wade (right), the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case and had a romantic relationship with, at a news conference announcing charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023. Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, upheld an appeals court's decision to disqualify Willis from the election interference case against Trump and his allies. (Kenny Holston/New York Times)

Credit: NYT