Atlanta City Council Approves Budget

The Atlanta City Council has approved their $542 million general funds budget for fiscal year 2013, a budget allowing for more police officers and featuring no layoffs.

According to a city press release, the budget passed 12-2. Felicia A. Moore (District 9) and Howard Shook (District 7) dissented, while Kwanza Hall (District 2) was not present.

The press release stated that the new budget will add 41 more officers to the city police force for a total of 2,000, a goal that had existed for a while. It added that there is also no property tax increase expected for fiscal year 2013, which begins on July 1. The AJC reports that no layoffs are expected, either.

The budget's press release adds that the new budget also gives the Office of Cultural Affairs more money for arts funding and increases the budget for the city's economic development agency. It also allocates funds for street lighting and clean-up crews, creates an International Affairs Office and invests in the Office of Sustainability, which will be funded by a grant until this September.

However, the anticipated revenues of $526.6 million are the lowest in a decade, though the long-term expectation is for that to begin recovering after bottoming out for fiscal 2013, according to the AJC.

“The fact that we will be able to provide the level of services that our residents expect with less revenues than in previous years demonstrates our commitment to looking for new and efficient ways of operating,” City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell said in the press release. “I too commend this City Council for approving a spending plan that is fiscally prudent and functionally sustainable.”